Louise S. Graves

Louise S. Graves January 27, 1915 - February 14, 2010 Louise S. Graves of Waco passed away Sunday, February 14, 2010, at Ridgecrest Retirement and Health Care. Memorial services will be 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 17, at First Baptist Church of Waco with Dr. Milton Cunningham and Dr. Randall Perry officiating. A reception will follow in the church parlor. There will be a private burial at Oakwood Cemetery officiated by Dr. John A. Wood. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Louise Graves was born January 27, 1915, in Ballinger, TX, to Elmer Shepperd and Mary Lou Robinson Robb Keys Shepperd. She graduated from Ballinger High School and from Baylor University, receiving her B.A. degree in 1935. While at Baylor, she was a member of Pi Beta Phi formerly Alpha Omega, she was named "Miss Personality," and she met and married George Berry Graves, Sr., a Baylor classmate. His uncle, Dr. George W. Truett, officiated at their wedding in Ballinger on April 12, 1935. Louise's cousins, the Keys Quadruplets, sang at their wedding. Also as a Baylor student, she joined First Baptist Church of Waco in 1931, and participated in the Estherian Sunday School Class, now called The Hannah Class, since 1935. She was honored as Senior Adult of the Year in 1992, and also served as WMU president and taught children's Sunday school classes for many years. She continued her love and support for Baylor University as a member of the Waco-Baylor Foundation and the Golden Heritage Club. As a young wife, she enthusiastically joined many Waco organizations, providing leadership as well as hours of service. As a member of the Belle Fleur Garden Club, she served as president in 1953-54; on the Board of the Hamilton House, she was president in 1960-61. She was active in the Hillcrest Hospital Auxiliary, serving as a volunteer and donating many of the 620 Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls that she sewed over a period of nine years. She was a life member of the Waco Boys Club, serving on the board from 1947-1963, recognized with the America Bronze Keystone Award for her 15 years of active service that included Grounds Committee and Entertainment Committee, while she chaired the Annual Christmas Party for 19 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; brother, Pat Ennis Shepperd; and son-in-law, Earl Bracken, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Lou Bracken; son, George Berry Graves, Jr. and wife, Judy McConathy Graves; grandchildren, Betsy Bracken of Waco, Suzanne Bracken Cox and husband, David, of Round Rock; Sarah Lynn Bracken Gamble and husband, Steve, of Frisco; Fonda Graves Paxton and husband, Joe, of Denver, Colorado; and Berry Graves and wife, Laura, of Waco. Also surviving are great grandchildren, Annie Langston Dugan, Bracken and Cali Louise Cox, Benjamin and Allison Gamble, Julia, Ryan, and Avery Paxton, and George Berry, Gillen and Grant Graves; sister, Nell Shepperd Hambrick; niece, Nancy Welch; nephew, Pat Hambrick and wife, Doriss, all of Waco; She was known to her family as Mama Lou and was adored and loved by all who knew her. Special thanks from the family are extended to the staff at Station 1 at Ridgecrest Retirement and Health Care and to Blue Bonnet Hospice for all their great care. For those who seek guidance in selecting a memorial, the family expresses the following: First Baptist Church of Waco Foundation, 500 Webster Ave., Waco, TX 76706, or the Louise and George Berry Graves, Sr., Endowed Scholarship Fund at Baylor University, One Bear Place, P.O. Box 97026, Waco, TX 76798. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our Memorial Guestbook at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.