Evelyn Graham

Evelyn S. Graham, accomplished traveler, enthusiastic conversationalist, proficient hunter, ice cream aficionado, card sharp, and bon vivant died on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 in her home, surrounded by her family. \r\n\r\nEvelyn, born in Camp Wood, Texas, set the fashion world on it's ear from the moment she had a say in what she was wearing. Her lipstick was always impeccable and she will be remembered as one of the classiest ladies to have come from a town with "camp" in it's name. \r\n\r\nBoth of her parents were believers and her dad was a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Camp Wood. She was baptized in the Nueces River at Leakey, Texas when she was 9 years old and her life was lived as a testament to, and her death a victory for, her Lord and savior Jesus Christ. \r\n\r\nBy 1939 Evelyn had moved with her family from the small town of Camp Wood to the overwhelmingly large town of San Angelo (population 25,000) where she graduated from high school in 1945. She enrolled in San Angelo Jr. College and during her time there she ran for, and was elected to, the student council serving as it's treasurer. Evelyn was well known for the dulcet tone of her voice and performed as a soloist in the college's singing group named "Melodious". The group took part in the welcoming home ceremony for the soldiers at Goodfellow Field after the ending of WWII. Some say it was the atomic bomb that ended that war but everyone in San Angelo knew it was Evelyn's siren song that brought our boys home. \r\n\r\nCaptivated at his homecoming by her nightingale voice Roy Waterhouse courted Evelyn and eventually won her hand; they were married in 1946. The couple moved to Laurel, Mississippi, and promptly ushered in the era of the "baby boomer" with the birth of their son, Jeff, in 1947. Evelyn, always one to be on the top of anything she set her mind to, moved back to San Angelo with her son in 1949 and enrolled at the business college. \r\n\r\nWhile studying bookkeeping she met her second husband Jim Graham. She went to work as a corporate secretary for her father's oil and gas business and after a period of time Jim was able to convince Evelyn that he was a good investment. They were married in 1952 and quickly added to the baby boomer population with daughters Lisa (b. 1954), Tracie (b. 1959) and son Brian (b. 1961). They spent several years living as Tarzan and Jane in the jungles of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. Evelyn, always the fashionista soon adopted the local animal skins as her signature look; she alone is responsible for the popularity of cheetah print in U.S. fashion culture.\r\n\r\nEvelyn was a strong force to be reckoned with and attracted people with a magnetism that could rival that of the north pole. She loved her family and friends and ministering to their needs renewed her more than the breakfast's for dinner's she was famous for sustaining her grandchildren with. She never met a stranger, received a speeding ticket or watched an R rated movie. Her grandchildren benefitted from her many lessons in deportment and through her grace learned what it meant to carry one's self with Style! \r\n\r\nEvelyn rocked this world the day she was born and had an unmatched ability to cultivate lifelong relationships. Her caring nature and disarming, down-to-earth manner stood her in good stead. Her community connections were broad and deep. She shared her home with countless, welcome visitors: family members and friends from around the country. They could always count on being greeted with a brilliant smile, open arms and "just a little snack" to tide them over until dinner. \r\n\r\nEvelyn defined herself through her enormous love for her family and no one, but no one, can fill her shoes.\r\n\r\nShe is survived by her brother Ray and his wife Doris Stewart, her four children and their spouses: Jeff and Connie Graham, Lisa Sinclair, Tracie and Larry Rose, Brian and Terri Graham. Her Grandchildren: Greg Graham, Brandon Graham, Kourtney Velasquez, Rachel Koppa, Ashlea Stares, Janell Blose, Tiffany Young, Joseph Graham, Cory Sinclair, Danielle Kasprzak, Lane Sinclair, Emily Graham, 19 great-grandchildren and her loving companion Sally.\r\n\r\nSpecial thanks to our long-time family friend Kristy Tilly for her continuous loving care of this amazing woman throughout the last ten years. \r\n\r\nVisitation will be held at Grims Funeral Chapels, 728 Jefferson, Kerrville on Sunday, December 14, 2014 from 2-5 p.m. The funeral will follow on Monday, December 15 at Vance Baptist Church, Vance, Texas, with services beginning at 12:00 p.m.\r\n\r\n\r\n[contact-form-7 id="73" title="Send Condolences"]