Barbara Ann (Komives) Graf

Barbara Ann Komives Graf, resident of Memphis, retired from the banking industry and mother of Monique Castellaw of Somerville died Tuesday evening, November 6, 2012 at the Signature Healthcare Center in Memphis where she had been a patient for six weeks. She was 77 years of age and died following an extended illness.

A Funeral Mass for Mrs. Graf was conducted at 1 P.M. Monday, November 12th at the St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville with Father Stephen Kenny of the church officiating. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center — Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mrs. Graf was born September 9, 1935 in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter Andrew Komives and Leona Pratt Komives. She received her education in the Catholic School System of St. Paul, Minnesota. She was the wife of the late Jack W. Graf, a military careerperson and pilot who served in the Korean and Vietnam periods with the United States Air Force. Mr. Graf died in 1984.

Mrs. Graf was employed in the checking account division of the First Tennessee Bank in Memphis for 30 years before her retirement in 2005. She was a devoted Catholic throughout her life and had been a resident of Memphis since 1974. She had been involved in Girl Scout activities for many years and served in positions of leadership with the Girl Scout Organizations in the various communities that she lived in during her husband’s military career.

Mrs. Graf was an avid reader and her interests also included scrapbooking, crafts and sewing for her family. She will be rememebred as a family-oriented person with a great love for life.

Mrs. Graf is survived by three daughters, Roxanne Byrne (Andy) of Covington, KY, Monique Castellaw (Jim) of Somerville, Christine Taggart (Jeff) of Dallas, GA; three sisters, Mary Sharon (Don) of Eagan, MN, Dolores Ullstrom (Gene) of Rockford, MN, Judy Harris (Leaman) of Edmond, OK; her brother, Robert Komives (Marney) of Fort Collins, CO; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Fayette County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, c/o Linda Taylor, 16845 Highway 64, Somerville, TN 38068 or the Shelby County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, 718 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103.