Mary Alice Graham, age 82 of Lima, passed at 6:57 p.m., Friday, November 5, 2021, at St. Rita’s Mercy Health. She was born June 9, 1939, in Lima, Ohio to the late Ronald and Mary Helen Miller Kennedy. On June 13, 1957, she married William K. “Bill” Graham who survives.
Mary was a 1957 graduate of Shawnee High School, homemaker and a member of the Grace Gospel Church in St. Paris, Ohio. She was very talented and had a passion for collecting a large variety of items. Some of her hobbies were making custom jewelry, shopping, decorating, and working with nature in her flower and rock gardens.
Fall was one of her favorite times of the year. Taking family trips, looking at the leaves, traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway where they would look at the flowers and the beautiful colors of the leaves, and she looked forward to seeing the Rhododendrons. It didn’t matter where they went if they were together.
She was multifaceted and yet uncomplicated. She lived for her family and will be remembered for her love of nature, naturally seeing the good in others, always making others feel special, and being very loving and unselfish person.
She was blessed with a wonderful family which include her husband of 64 years – Bill; their children – Timothy (Lynette Taviano) Graham of Lima; Rebecca (Bruce) Sowders of Lima; Beth (Gregg) Sleutz of St. Paris; Sarah Kuncel of Lima; 15 grandchildren – Justin Graham, Abbey (Patrick) Simpson; Bo Sleutz, Luke Graham, John Sowders, Jud Sleutz, Breanna Graham, Cloe Sowders, Caleb (Olivia) Sowders, Sierra Graham, Myra (Braiden) Bowermeister, Andy (Danielle) Kuncel, Lillian Kuncel, Aramia Kuncel, Fiona Kuncel; 12 great grandchildren – Lily Graham, William Simpson, Annelise Graham, Odessa Simpson, Zora Flanagan-Graham, Samantha Simpson, Layla Kuncel, Annika Kuncel, Noah Simpson, Gabriel Simpson, Briggs Sowders, Baby Boy Bowermeister; 3 sisters – Loretta Davis of Wapakoneta; Bonnie Kirshner of Lima; Diane Frank of Lima.
She was preceded in death by a son-in-law – Kurt Kuncel; 2 grandsons – John Sowders and Jud Sleutz.
Funeral services will begin 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville. Lloyd Lusk will officiate. Burial will follow at Fairmount Cemetery near Uniopolis. The family will have a gathering following the burial at Tim Graham’s house at 19889 Boundry Road, Lima, OH 45806.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Grace Gospel Church, Benevolent Fund, 12725 Wolcott Rd, Saint Paris, OH 43072.