Mary Ann Graham

Mary Ann Graham, 91, of Denton, Texas, formerly of McGregor, Texas, passed away on December 25, 2020. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at Restland Cemetery, Gatesville, Texas, with Dr. Philip M. Riegel officiating. Mary Ann was born on August 14, 1929, at Ames, Texas, the second of three children to Annie Pearl Quicksall Davis and John Alford Davis. She grew up in the Hay Valley community, attending schools there and at Gatesville, and graduated from Gatesville High School in 1947. On November 14, 1947, she married Vernon Graham at her parents’ house in Hay Valley, Texas. A daughter, Belva, was born to this union in 1948, and Mary Ann began her best life’s work of being a mother. Mary Ann was a homemaker and farmer’s wife for seven years in Hamilton and Coryell counties until moving to McGregor in 1954, when Vernon was employed at Rocketdyne. She continued working at home and being an active participant in school and church events until Belva graduated from high school in 1966. She then worked at Word, Incorporated, in Waco, processing payments for books and records and supervising others. Afterwards, she returned to homemaking where she loved serving large dinners on special occasions to her family, working at College Avenue Baptist Church in various capacities (including Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School Teacher, Women on Missions member, and servant on many committees), helping in worship services at Westview Manor Nursing Home, and hosting showers, birthday parties, and other get-togethers for over 35 years at her beautiful home on the farm outside McGregor. She enjoyed working in her flowerbeds and the garden as well as canning, freezing and sharing fruits and vegetables, and generally loving and sharing God’s blessings. In 2011, Mary Ann and Vernon moved to Denton to be closer to immediate family because of health issues. A part of her heart always remained with her friends and her church in McGregor. Mary Ann was her dear Vernon’s “Sweet Lady” until preceded in death by him on February 19, 2018, after 70 years of marriage. Also preceding her were her parents, Al and Pearl Davis; two brothers, Curtis Davis and wife, Thelma, and Clay Davis and wife, Joan; two nephews, Curtis Davis, Jr. and Glenn Clay Davis; and a niece, Nancy Davis. Remaining to cherish her memory are her daughter and son-in-law, Belva and Gene Parham of Denton; grandchildren, Jennie and Scott Ford of Gainesville and Crystal Hawkins of Lantana; great-grandchildren, Megan and Robbie Kerchoff of Rhome, Morgan and John Terry of Sanger, and Ethan Thurman of Gainesville; great-great grandchildren, Rylee Grace Kerchoff of Rhome and Mason Clem Terry of Sanger; a sister-in-law, Lila Graham; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, all for whom she prayed daily. The family wishes to thank those who cared for her at Medical City Denton and Denton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, as well as Archway Hospice for their excellent services. Anyone wishing to honor Mary Ann with a memorial gift may do so by contributing to College Avenue Baptist Church, 201 S Monroe Ave, McGregor, TX 76657, or a charity of your choice.