Maudee James Graves

Maudee Jean Graves, 92, a long-time resident of Ross, and more recently Petaluma, California, passed away at her family's beloved "Oak Shadows Ranch" in Sanger, Fresno County, on October 4, 2018. She passed quietly surrounded by her family, following a full life, spanning ten decades.

Maudee was deeply loved by her family and many friends and will be greatly missed.

She leaves behind a legacy of beauty, grace, and dignity. She was a talented artist and pianist and loved to sing her favorite songs, including those from her childhood memories of living in France. She loved to garden, decorate and she won prizes for her paintings. She was an avid horsewoman and loved her various pets over the years.

Born January 29, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, many of Maudee's earliest years were spent in Blonville-Sur-Mer, Normandy, France. She and her parents briefly returned to San Francisco in 1928, to accommodate the birth of her younger brother, Jefferson James Graves, Jr.

Maudee moved with her family from France Ross, Marin County, in 1936 when her beloved Grandmother, Maude Strother James Graves, for whom she was named, passed away. The family divided time between their home in Ross and their ranch in Sanger, and made frequent trips back to their beach cottage on the French Coast. She graduated from Katharine Branson High School in Ross, Dominican Convent in San Rafael and attended courses at Marin Junior College (now College of Marin).

Her recent years were spent at her historic Maclay/Sanderson home and gardens on D Street in Petaluma, California. She was the daughter of Colonel Jefferson James Graves Sr., a rancher, real estate investor, and Army veteran of World Wars I and II. Her mother, Roberta Jean (Hewson), was a former silent film actress and model. Driven by patriotic duty, her father requested reenlistment into the Army, upon the outbreak of WW II. His military duties initially relocated him and his family to Fort Douglas, Utah, where he commanded the Army Reception Center there.

The family moved once again when her father's wartime service took him to Washington D.C., where Maudee met and married her first husband, James Oliver Murdock. Her father’s assignment at the Pentagon involved a key position in managing the Selective Service System. Following the end of WW II, Maudee returned with her family to Ross. They frequently traveled to the Ranch in Sanger and their beach home in France. She was present the day he was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1946 by General Joseph Stillwell, for meritorious service, at a ceremony at the Presidio of San Francisco.

Maudee excelled in art and displayed her talent at a young age. She said she was happy as long as she had a notepad and pencil in her hand. As a young girl, she would often sit at the family ranch sketching or painting the landscape and livestock including “Heroism,” one of her father’s famous racehorses. She spent many years pursuing her passion for the theater by acting in numerous productions of the Ross Valley Players.

Maudee loved her family and loved her heritage. She was born into a prominent family who left behind their mark on the world from generation to generation. Prior to her birth, Maudee's father, grandfather, and Uncle, took over the ranching responsibilities after her great grandfather Jefferson Gilbert James passed away in 1910. James came to California from Missouri in the 1850's in search of his fortune. He was highly successful and after finding gold on the American River, built a land and cattle ranching empire in Fresno, California. He was known as one of the state's Cattle Barons and a prominent and successful businessman in Fresno and San Francisco, where his stockyards and business were headquartered. James was the President of nine banks in San Francisco and Fresno and owned 240,000 acres in Sanger. The property was later named Tranquility by Maudee’s father and Uncle, Walker.

Her father also found the time to serve his Country in France during WW I, as a Captain assigned to the “California Grizzlies,” a Field Artillery Company, made up of volunteers. Her grandfather, Walker Coleman Graves, was a prominent attorney in San Francisco. He served as a Special Assistant District Attorney and battled political corruption. He once ran for Attorney General of California. Her grandmother Maude was a well-known society matron and philanthropist.

Their home on Scott Street in Pacific Heights was once known as the "Pink Palace."

Maudee can trace her father’s lineage to Thomas Graves, one of the early settlers of the Jamestown Colony, who arrived in what is now Virginia, with the second supply company in 1608.

Her lineage can also be directly traced to Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emperor from the eighth century, as well as no less than ten additional European monarchs. Through this same line, she is related to Princess Diana Spencer and Sir Winston Churchill through their common ancestor, Sir Nicholas Spencer, who immigrated to Virginia from England in 1635 and was the Acting Governor of Virginia in 1683 On her mother’s side, she is descended from Charlotte Green whose uncles were once owners of vast tracts of land in Yerba Buena (San Francisco), land south of Golden Gate Park, from the Ocean inland, including land that is now known as Lake Merced, Stern Grove, south to San Bruno in San Mateo County.

She was a member of several genealogical organizations including the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne, First Families of Virginia, and The Society of the California Pioneers. She stayed socially active in her community and regularly opened her beautiful home, displaying its furnishings and gardens to visitors during Heritage Homes of Petaluma events.

Maudee was as comfortable working on the ranch as she was getting dressed to the nines for a party. She loved people and was devoted to her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; Her spouses James Oliver Murdock, Jack “Baker” Willcutt (of Baker and Hamilton), John Vigurs, and Peter Calisle; Her grandson Anton Winston Spencer Bakker; Her great granddaughter Bailey Paige Willcutt and dear friend Linn Alexander.

She is survived by her daughters Katharine (Kaylea) Murdock Bakker and her husband Peter Bakker of Napa, CA, Maudee “Tres” Willcutt of Sanger, CA, Roberta “Bobbin” Willcutt of St. Helena, CA; Grandchildren Kimberly Quinlan Bakker of Ross, CA, Joshua James ( and his wife Lindsay) Willcutt of Sanger, CA; Great grandchildren Brody Willcutt, Cheyenne Willcutt of Sanger, Quinlan (Quinn) Antoinette Bakker of Ross, CA; Great great grandchild Paisley Willcutt of Sanger, CA. She is also survived by her brother Jefferson James Graves (Shirley), of Novato, CA. Her nieces Roberta (Robert) Moore of San Jose, CA, Courtney Morehen (Robert) of Novato, CA; Her great niece, Audrey Moore; Her caregivers Marie Antoniette Scalise and Vickie James (and distant Cousin); and many friends.

A Graveside Service for Maudee will be held Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, 1370 El Camino Real, Coma, CA 94014.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.boicefuneralhome.com for the GRAVES family.