John departed this life Friday, February 18, 2022. He was the eighth child of ten children born to this union. Johnny, as he was affectionately known by his family, spent his formative years in Enid, Oklahoma. He attended primary and secondary school at Booker T. Washington, and graduated from Enid High in 1959. He then married the late Maudell Lawrence and had four children from that union, a daughter from a previous relationship, and later adopted two more children.
He entered the military at the young age of 17 and served his country for over 24 years until he retired from active duty in 1983. John was a well decorated service man. After retirement, he attended the University of Central Oklahoma where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Administration. John served an additional 11 years with the DoD as a Community Readiness Consultant for the 72d MSS/DPF, at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. He was most proud of his leadership/mentorship role in helping veterans transition to civilian life. He retired from Civil service in 2007.
John was raised in a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian home and attended the Philadelphia Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Enid, Oklahoma. In 1985, he became a member of the 10th Street SDA church now known as Voice of Hope SDA in Oklahoma City, OK. and, later, a member of Christian Fellowship SDA church in Midwest City, OK. John had a love of cooking and being around his family and friends was something he tremendously enjoyed. The Lord blessed him with an incredible voice, which he used to God’s glory. His singing ministry took him to several churches in the State Oklahoma, in Texas, Tennessee, Japan, and the Azores.
Now, John, having the blessed hope, along with his parents, siblings, and other family members, who too, have gone to sleep, awaits the last trumpet sound, which announces the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
John leaves his wife of 32 years, Rose Graves of Oklahoma City, OK., to cherish his memory; his eight (8) children, Joyce Carr (Chester) Dallas, TX; John Graves Jr (Enid, OK); Jay Graves (Enid, OK); Rae Graves (Enid, OK); Gayla Graves (Union City, California); Sean Graves (Fairview, OK); Tara Graves (Plano, TX), stepson Marvin Hawkins (Andrea) DeSoto, TX; siblings, sisters Iba Trotter and Lucinda Moye of OKC, and brother Timothy Graves (Rosalie) of Cromwell, OK. He will also be missed by his 13 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
