Roger Harrison Graves

MESA - Roger Harrison Graves passed away on Mar. 6, 2013 at Sante' of Mesa Rehabilitation facility after a long illness. Roger H. Graves was born Aug. 2, 1936 to Frank C. Graves and Clara L. (Pomeroy) Graves. He graduated from Brigham Academy in Bakersfield, Vt. and then joined the Vermont National Guard. He was a Vermont Dairy Inspector for years before becoming disabled at 41 years of age. Years later he was employed at the St. Albans Co-op in St. Albans, Vt. He was predeceased in death by his youngest sister, Colleen Hodson of Palm Desert, Calif. He is survived by a sister, Virginia Olson of Mancos, Colo.; a brother, Landon Graves of Coolidge, Ariz.; three children, Debra and Eric Kranda of Big Bear Lake, Calif., Dawn and Dave DeLaRiva of Santa Anna, Calif., and Dean and Julie Graves of Wellesley, Mass. Roger also has five very loving grandchildren, Amber and Taylor Kranda, Luke and Lindsay Graves and Christopher DeLaRiva. Roger also leaves his long time life partner, Carol Hamlett of Mesa; and her family, Penny and Wade Brown and their children in Concord, N.C.; also numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Roger will always be remembered as a lover of music and dance and as a Justice of the Peace to the many, many marriages he performed in the State of VT. Loved by many for his generous heart, laughter and above all, his loving ways. Services will be held 11 a.m., Sat., Mar. 23, 2013 at Velda Rose United Methodist Church Chapel, 5540 E. Main St., in Mesa