Marjory Jean Graham, known to most as Jean, entered the Church Triumphant on Friday, September 10, 2021. Jean was born on April 13, 1929, to Max Martin Garrett and Eva Linebaugh Garrett in Page County, Iowa. She was accompanied into the world by her twin brother, Max Lane Garrett, who predeceased her. "Little Jeannie Garrett" enjoyed a stellar girls' basketball career in high school, intimidating neighboring teams with her talent. After a gap year spent working to raise funds, Jean attended Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri, where she met her future husband, W. Fred Graham, and graduated with a BA in music (piano). After Jean helped Fred through seminary, they took up residence in Waterloo, Iowa, where, with Jean's help, Fred ministered to his first church for six years, and the first three of their four daughters were born. After a two-year stint in a Quonset hut in Iowa City, Iowa, while Fred got his doctorate and their fourth daughter was born, Jean and Fred moved to East Lansing and Michigan State University in 1963. They enjoyed many friendships in the Chesterfield Hills neighborhood, where they raised their family and lived the rest of their lives. Jean and Fred were active members at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, and enjoyed the music and sports provided by MSU. They traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Israel, often accompanied on their Elderhostel ventures by Jean's twin brother, Max, and his wife, Joyce. Jean was an academic advisor in the School of Social Work at MSU for many years to ensure that all four of their daughters could attend college. She was also an avid quilter, every successive quilt increasing in difficulty and beauty.
Jean was predeceased by her husband, W. Fred Graham, on June 12, 2021; her parents, Max and Eva Garrett; her brothers, Max (Joyce) and Laurence (Claris) Garrett; and her older sister, Patricia Hanson. She is survived by her four daughters: Terese "Terry" Graham of East Lansing; Bonny Graham of Champaign, Illinois; Marcy Graham (Doug Kinkhorst) of Kirksville, Missouri; and Geneva “Genny” (Chris) Looker of Vienna, Virginia; and six grandchildren: Marcy Havlatka (fiancé Jordan Carter), Reese Havlatka, Peter Havlatka, Will Murphy, Ben Looker (fiancée Kathryn Porcell), and Sam Looker, and one great- grandchild (Reese's daughter), April Graham Tobin.
A memorial service will be held for Jean on Saturday, September 25, 2021, 2:00 p.m., at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1315 Abbot Rd., East Lansing, MI, refreshments to follow. All are welcome (with a mask).
Donations may be made in Jean's honor to Church World Services or Eastminster Presbyterian Church.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the GRAHAM family.
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