C. Junior Graham
1938 – 2017
Tarkio, Missouri

Cleo Junior Graham, the son of Cleo Miles and Pearl May (Hamilton) Graham, was born December 14, 1938, in Malvern, Iowa. He attended Homer Country School and Tarkio High School, Tarkio, Missouri.

On March 19, 1961, Junior was united in marriage to Helen Grace Lester at the Church of God in Tarkio. They became the parents of three children, Phillip, Jeanne and Greg. For a short time, they made their home in California before moving back to Tarkio, where he lived to the present time.

While in California, Junior was employed at a Cracker Factory. His job was to knead large amounts of graham cracker dough by hand, he hated it!! This motivated a return to Tarkio, where Junior worked in farming. In the mid 1960’s, he was employed in the construction of the Missouri Beef Packers plant. Once operational Junior worked nearly every position within the plant, which made him indispensable in its daily operation. In 1983, Junior was employed by the Atchison County Highway Department, as a heavy equipment operator, retiring in December 2009.

Junior was a former member of the North Star Lodge #157 A.F. & A.M., Rock Port, and was a Boy Scout enthusiast. Junior passed away Saturday, September 16, 2017, at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Rock Port at the age of 78.

In addition to his parents and wife, Gracie, Junior was preceded in death by brother, Dick Graham. Survivors include children, Phillip Cleo Graham and wife, Michelle, Fairfax, Missouri, Jeanne Grace (Ed Bowman) Wallace, and Greg Shawn Graham, all of Tarkio; five grandchildren, Trent, Briana, Tiffaney, Tawni, Carley and grand lizard, Gonzo; five great-grandchildren, Kegan, Brady, Benjamin, Liam and Lance; five siblings, Bob Graham, Patsey Riley, Beverley Walker, Mary Jo Vance and Jerry Graham; brother-in-law, Paul Lester and wife, Karen; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service: 10:30 AM, Wednesday, September 20, 2017, Assembly of God Church, Tarkio.
Interment: Linden Cemetery, Rock Port.
Family Visitation: 6:00 – 7:00 PM, Tuesday, September 19th, Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.
Memorials: American Cancer Society
Online obituaries and condolences www.minterfuneralchapels.com
Services under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.