Estes Park resident Ethel Graham died on August 17, 2019 at Good Samaritan Village in Estes Park, CO. She was 102 years old. Ethel Louise Hicklin was born March 4, 1917, in Kansas City, KS. Her parents were Ernest and Ruby (Drennon) Hicklin. Ethel graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, KS, in 1934. Growing up, she won many singing contests, and sang in a trio for a live weekly
radio show. She went to Hollywood at age 18 for an audition with MGM studios, which
resulted in a contract offer to sing in production musicals. She turned that down and
returned to Kansas City to pursue a relationship with Charles Vincent Graham, whom
she married May 23, 1937. Her husband was a minister for the Community of Christ
church, with assignments in Kansas City, KS, Philadelphia, PA, Independence, MO, and
San Lorenzo, CA. Being a minister’s wife, she taught many women’s christian seminars,
and also directed a women’s chorus. A career outside the church was with Macy’s
Department Store where she worked as a music department buyer. A good memory for
her daughters was Ethel dancing the charleston as they all did the dinner dishes. In
addition, Ethel was an accomplished seamstress for the entire family. She retired with
her husband back to Independence in 1992.
Ethel moved to Estes Park in 2006 to be near family. There, she sang with the
Mountainaires ladies chorus. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles. She
is survived by daughters Janet (James) Kangieser of Morrison, CO, and Mesa, AZ; Jane (Robert) Connell of Orangevale, CA; and June (James) Gamet of Estes Park, CO. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great
grandchildren. A gathering will celebrate Ethel’s life at Good Samaritan Village in Estes
Park at a later date. Entombment will take place at Mound Grove Cemetery in
Independence, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to Outreach International in
care of Allnutt, 1302 Graves Ave., Estes Park, CO.
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