Grady Graham, Sr

Grady Mack Graham, Sr, 76, of Grapevine, passed away on January 18, 2016, at Texas Health Harris Methodist hospital in Bedford. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, January 21, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro with Rev. John Mollet of First United Methodist Church in Grapevine officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Garden of Memory near Hillsboro. Visitation will be from 12:00 - 1:00 PM on Thursday at the funeral home prior to the service.

Grady was born on March 28 1939, in Waco, to Willie Mack and Bentley Lorene (Hooks) Graham. He grew up in Hillsboro and graduated from Hillsboro High School and Texas Christian University in 1961, where he earned a BA degree. Originally a ministerial student before studying business, he did post graduate work at Southern Methodist University and Baylor University.

Following his study at Baylor, he went to work in commercial finance, working for GE Credit Corporation and Associates for a number of years before later working as a commercial insurance agent until his retirement. He was first married to Patsy Kelley and together they had a son, Grady Mack Graham, Jr. On April 16, 1976, he and Betty Jane Taylor were united in marriage in Oklahoma City, OK. Not long after, the couple moved to San Diego for two years before returning to the Dallas area, living in Carrollton and Grapevine.

A talented trumpet player, Grady played in the band while at TCU, as well as in the unit band of the Air Force National Guard during his service there. He savored big band music along with jazz. He was a serious history buff. Thomas Jefferson’s life and times were especially interesting to him, as well those of all the founding fathers. He was also an accomplished woodworker and enjoyed making period-piece furniture for his room dedicated to Thomas Jefferson. Related to his love of history, he relished a good political discussion with family and friends.

Grady was a true adventurer. He enjoyed the great outdoors and was an avid backpacker. In addition, he was a pilot and loved to fly. Interestingly, he built, and also crashed, his own airplane.

Preceding him in death were his parents and a nephew, Brian Ross. He is survived by his loving wife, Betty Graham, of Grapevine; son, Grady Mack Graham, Jr., and wife, Tammy of Leesburg; a sister, Mary Graham of Temple; two grandchildren, Michael James Graham of Frisco and Brianna Lynn Graham of Leesburg; and one nephew, Scott Ross of Houston.

Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice or Mission Aviation Fellowship at www.maf.org.

Visitation

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ,Thursday, January 21, 2016
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro
2495 Corsicana Highway Hillsboro, TX 76645

Funeral Service

1:00 PM ,Thursday, January 21, 2016
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro
2495 Corsicana Highway Hillsboro, TX 76645

Burial

Thursday, January 21, 2016
Hillcrest Garden of Memory
3838 State Highway 22 Hillsboro, TX 76645