Barbara’s Obituary There is a traffic jam at the rainbow bridge today as hundreds of foster rescue animals lined up to be re-united with Barbara Holland Graves who passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at the age of 92, following a 5 year battle with cancer. Also waiting to greet her was her devoted husband of 35 years, John F. Graves who passed away in 1979 and her beloved son, Robert (Ann) Graves who passed away in 2012; all her siblings, Marjorie (Ed) Kurth; June (Herm) Levi; Sidney (Jean) Moiles; David (Ginney) Holland; 2 nephews and 1 niece. Barbara was born on February 1, 1927 in Saginaw to Judge Robert and Lillian (Gehrls) Holland and later married John F. Graves on June 23, 1948 in Saginaw.
Barbara had been a teacher for the Saginaw Public School system for many years until her retirement in 1983. She will be missed by her children, John F. Graves of Dallas, GA; Margaret “Peggy” Graves of Bay City; Ann Graves of White Cloud; David (Crystal) Graves of New Boston, MI; Nancy (Woody) Graves-Wilson of Holland; her grandchildren, Justin, Darrel, Geofrey (Deeniz), Brandon, Ian, Tyler, Colton, Amanda, Audrey (Duan), Jay (Brittney), Julie; 3 ½ great grandchildren; her beloved cats, Mossy, Zeus, and Grace. She leaves behind many special friends and neighbors who she has shared many great memories with since moving to White Cloud in 1983.
The animal kingdom is a better place for having Barb in this world. Barb spent 25 years volunteering at Lake Haven Rescue in Newaygo and the Newaygo County Animal Shelter and had fostered 100’s of cats and kittens, many requiring feedings every 1or 2 hours. She cherished her time camping, especially at Ludington State Park, painting ceramics – which her family will treasure.
She had a great love of music for which she passed to all of her children and had sang in various choirs throughout the years. She spent countless hours hoarding “collecting” food containers, plastic cutlery, and Ziploc bags – which she washed by hand to reuse. She always had a keen sense of humor which all the children inherited and will miss most of all.
Barb was a great person to have the privilege of knowing. Private services will be held at the family home following her wishes for cremation. Friends may consider memorial contributions to Lake Have Rescue 551Pickeral Lake Drive Newaygo MI 49337 www.
lakehavenrescue.org ; the Newaygo County Animal Shelter or the Rhino Fund at www. rhinofund.org for memorial contributions in memory of Barbara. Friends may send a condolence or share a memory with the Graves family online at www.
crandellfh.com.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
