Mary L. Graham

Mary Louise Graham was born on Friday, May 16, 1924, in Ottawa, Franklin County, Kansas. She was the daughter of James E. and Edna Pearl (Lighty) Rice. A lifelong resident, Mary made her home in Ottawa, until her death on Friday, December 9, 2011, at the age of eighty-seven years. Mary graduated from Ottawa High School with the class of 1942 and later from Ottawa Business College. In the 1940’s, during World War II, Mary worked as a teletype operator for Beech Aircraft and Sunflower Ordinance Plant. In the 1960’s, she worked for Ottawa Herald Newspaper and Wassmer’s Clothing in accounting. From 1965 to 1976, she was secretary to the city manager of Ottawa, and 1976 to retirement in 1983, was the City Treasurer of Ottawa. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Ottawa and several organizations including Business and Professional Women’s Club; member and past president of Lincoln School Parent Teachers Association; City Clerk Association; Friends of the Ottawa Library; Franklin County Historical Society; life member of Union Chapter #15, Order of the Eastern Star; served as past Grand Matron of Grand Chapter of Kansas in 1984; Ottawa Assembly #136, Social Order of the Beauceant; and Retta Conclave #8, Order of True Kindred. Mary enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing, camping, and was blessed with the opportunity of visiting many countries. She also learned to fly and earned her pilot’s license. Mary’s greatest enjoyment, however, was spending time with her family and visiting with her grandchildren. On Tuesday, December 25, 1944, Mary was united in marriage with Robert N. Graham in Wichita, Kansas. He preceded her in death on June 10, 1988. She is also preceded in death by her parents; two sons, James F. Graham, Richard L. Graham; two brothers, Floyd Rice, John Rice; and sister, Eula Branson. She is survived by two daughters, Edna L. Graham of Topeka, Kansas, Mary Winifred Fisher and her husband, Lynn, of Overland Park, Kansas; ten grandchildren, James Graham and his wife, Theresa, Jane Graham Jennings and her husband, Chris, Jennifer Graham Kohel and her husband, Eric, Mary Jo Guiert, Jason Morgan, Jeffery Morgan, Charlie Graham, Mitch Graham, Max Fisher, Brenda Wheeler; and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. SERVICES: Graveside Services will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery, west of Pomona, Kansas, at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. IN STATE: Friends may pay respects at the Dengel & Son Mortuary in Ottawa from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday. Her casket will remain closed. CEMETERY: Woodlawn Cemetery, west of Pomona, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions to Alzheimer’s Association, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.