Marian Lillian Graves, 87, formerly of 67 Spring Street, Gifford, passed away Sunday, March 20, 2016 at The Pavilion at BRMC.
Born May 17, 1928 in Bingham, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Margaret (Moore) Holsinger.
On August 6, 1944 in Machias, NY, she married Phillip L. Graves, who passed away February 5, 2011.
Mrs. Graves attended schools in Bingham, Custer City, and Bradford.
She had worked as a practical nurse at the Fairview Hospital, then The Hannum Home and Bradford Hospital. She then worked at Corning Glass Works for 10 years.
She, along with her husband, was a founding member of Hilltop Baptist Church, where she served as Church and Financial Secretary, taught Vacation Bible School, and organized and cooked many church meals, eventually passing her knowledge to the younger generation of women. She not only received great joy from teaching her 4th, 5th and 6th grade Sunday School class, but was also a blessing to her students.
Her committment to Jesus Christ was demonstrated in her ministries to the church and in her Godly example of wife, mother, and grandmother to her family.
She is survived by four children, Phillip L. 'Skeet' (Judy) Graves, Ronald (Leticia) Graves, David (Joan) Graves and Marianne (Jay) Walter, all of Gifford; 15 grandchildren, Tammy Graves, Tracy (Rick) Burke, Terri (Abbott) Case, Frank (Alicia) Graves, Tina Kandare, Brian (Trisha) Graves, Jaimie Graves, Brent (Tamela) Graves, Leticia Luengas, David (Elisa) Tello, Denise (Kip) Waid, Ben (Melissa) Graves, Julie Graves, Nicole (Adam) Rogers and Jay Michael (Kaitlyn) Walter; 36 great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; one brother, Jim Holsinger of Bradford and several nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to call from 2-4 and 6-8 PM, Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at the Hilltop Baptist Church and again from 10-11 AM Thursday, March 24, 2016, where funeral services will be held at 11 AM, with Rev. Max Simms, Pastor, officiating. Committal services and burial will follow in McKean Memorial Park.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc.
On line condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com