CMSGT Leroy J. "Lee" Graham USAF

Leroy Julian Graham, known as Lee to his family and friends, went to be with the Lord on July 27, 2011, after a brave and lengthy battle with cancer. Lee was born March 10, 1940, in Leggette, Texas, to Rena Ethel Michon and Mack Emmit Graham. He and his mother moved to Port Arthur, Texas, in 1941, where he attended St James Elementary School, Thomas Jefferson High School and the University of Houston. After enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1957 and serving in Viet Nam, Lee advanced to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and retired from Langley Air Force Base as the Military Personnel Superintendant. Lee then worked as the Personnel Director at Park Place Hospital in Port Arthur, Texas. His love of working for the Government motivated him to accept a Civil Service position at the Corpus Christy Army Depot as a Quality Assurance Specialist. He transferred to the Johnson Space Center Space Shuttle Program Office where he was appointed External Audit manager. Lee retired from NASA in 2005 and returned to his home in Groves, Texas, where he met up with local family members and old friends. He found his strength in his family and enjoyed their company, whether it was on Lake Livingston at the home of great friends, visiting with his children at cookouts at their homes, or just enjoying their company. He always loved his wife, children and grandchildren before all others.

Lee is survived by his loving and supportive wife of 49 ½ years, Mamie Louise Powell Graham, children Leroy J. Graham, II and wife, Vicki, Kimberlee A. Raines and husband, Randy, Christine Denise Sedgwick, Carrie Graham Eisworth and husband, Michael, and Charles A. Graham and wife, Joanna. Lee also leaves behind 11 grandchildren.

He will be buried at Houston National Cemetery at a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to MD Anderson Cancer Center at www.mdanderson.org/gifts.

Arrangements under the direction of Forest Park East Funeral Home and Cemetery, Webster, Texas.