Donald Graham (4-14-14) service 4-16-14

Donald L. Graham, of Adamsville, was born on July 18, 1929, at home in White County, Ill., to Clyde Graham and Edith Pollard Graham. He was the second of six children born into that family. They survived the hard years of the depression by farming and selling their produce and eggs.

Don attended various small country schools before graduating in 1946 from Albion High School in Albion, Ill. Shortly after graduation while working as a diesel mechanic for Oilfield Motor Service, he was drafted into the United States Army to serve in combat in the Korean War. He served with distinction from December 1950, to September 1952, attaining the rank of master sergeant.

On Jan. 24, 1953, he married Ann Kloepper of Cora, Ill. Together they shared 61 years and had two daughters and a son.

Don developed two successful businesses in Grayville, Ill. He was the owner of Graham Insurance and Real Estate and the president of Petro-Halogen Corporation, an oil and gas exploration company. During his entrepreneurial years, Don served as the president of Grayville Chamber of Commerce.

Don was a committed member of his church, which was Full Gospel Church during his years in Grayville, Ill., and more recently Love and Truth Church in Savannah. He was an avid hunter and golfer, and he loved supporting his hometown sports teams.

Don passed from this life Monday, April 14, in Jackson. In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by a brother, Dellas Graham. He is survived by his wife Ann L. Graham of Adamsville; two daughters, Jan Melton and husband Rob of Evansville, Ill., Sherri Cupples and husband Eddie of Jackson; a son, Scott Graham and wife Michelle of Florissant, Mo.; five grandchildren, Ashley Cupples-Lee and husband Adam, Meagan Melton, Zac Cupples, Jeremy Graham, Jessica Graham; a great-grandchild, Graham Lee; a sister, Ava Walker of Lawrenceville, Ill.; three brothers, Densil Graham and wife Gail of Grayville, Ill., Ret. Col. Bobby Graham and wife Shirley of Centerville, Ga. and Larry Graham and wife Jean of Gold Canyon, Ariz.

Services were held Wednesday, April 16, at Shackelford Funeral Directors of Adamsville with Bill Luther and Philip Meek officiating. Burial followed at Oak Grove Cemetery in Grayville, Ill.

Memorials may be made to Love and Truth Church, Building Fund, P. O. Box 1147, Savannah, Tenn. 38372 or Tupelo Children’s Mansion, 1801 E. Main St., Tupelo, Miss. 38804.