Milton Tipton “Bud” Graves of Houston, Texas passed away on January 24, 2023, at the age of 86. He died peacefully at home after a long journey with cancer. He was born to Cy and Dortha Graves on August 31, 1936 in Okmulgee, OK. His father worked for Phillips Petroleum and they lived in Cactus, TX until his family moved to Pasadena, TX, when he was seventeen. He graduated from Pasadena High School and attended the University of Houston before graduating from Sam Houston State University with an Accounting Degree in 1957.
He married the love of his life, Jennie, in 1959 and they were married for 63 years. He began working for the Cockrell Family in 1960 and eventually retired in the role of President of Cockrell Interests. During his tenure with Cockrell he oversaw the growth of the company and its transition from a strictly oil and gas company to one with many diversified interests including real estate and other ventures throughout Houston and the nation. Some of his favorite projects included overseeing the development of the building at 1000 Main in downtown Houston, the development of The Reserve on the East River in Crested Butte, CO, and the management of Belding Farms, one of the states largest pecan orchards in Fort Stockton, TX.
When he wasn’t overseeing one of these projects he could be found on a tractor on his family farm in Trinity, TX. He loved to fly fish on every river around Crested Butte and was a long-time member of Second Baptist Church in Houston, where he served on the Finance Committee, as a Deacon and as a Sunday School class leader.
He is survived by his wife, Jennie C. Graves, his son and daughter-in-law Greg K. and Cecilia Graves, his daughter and son-in-law Shelley and Louie Giglio, his granddaughter and her husband Jennifer and Byron Sullivan, and his great- granddaughter Zoe Sullivan and her baby sister, who is due in February. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law Pat and Tom Powers and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Cathy and L. C. Courtney, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Milton was confident in his faith in Jesus and his family knows with certainty he is home in heaven with his Savior, whom he deeply loved.
Milton was known as an extremely generous person who supported various causes throughout his life. Please consider a donation in his memory to Bloom In Color, an art therapy non-profit managed by his granddaughter, Jennifer Sullivan as an outreach for kids with cancer in Houston; or to Passion Conferences, a conference for college students in Atlanta, GA overseen by his daughter and son-in-law Shelley and Louie Giglio.
Milton’s Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 3:30 pm, Chapel of Angels, Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home and Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale Ave., Houston, TX 77023.
A Donation may be made payable by check to:
Bloom in Color, Note: In honor of M. T. Graves, Mail To: 102 Crestwood Dr., Houston, TX 77007
*These proceeds (501 C3) will benefit ongoing art supplies for The Faris Foundation Art Studio at Texas Children’s Hospital located in the Houston Medical Center and other similar charities to provide art therapy for children in the Houston area.
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