A devoted Christian, she was baptized at seven years old and taught Sunday School for over 40 years. She was a member of the Church of Christ for for over 65 years. Freda worked as a clerk in the school system for many years. At her retirement, they said she was "the glue that held everything together".
On December 11, 1954 she married the love of her life and highschool sweetheart, Pete Graves. Together they had three children and she raised them in a home full of singing. She loved camping, traveling, and baking cookies. She was "the cookie lady" to many friends and loved to bake with her grandkids. During Covid she developed a cookie ministry where she delivered cookies to the community to bring some joy to their lives. A generous, hospitable, kind, and warm hearted woman, she loved her family and friends dearly and cared for them in whatever way she could.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Francis "Pete" Graves; parents, Howard and Gwendolyn (Gates) Rossell; siblings, Maynard Rossell, Lavonne Nelson, and Arvid Rossell; son in law, Charles Travis.
Freda is survived by her children, Steve Graves (Evelyn), Sally Travis, Ken Graves (Terri); grandchildren, Serena Springstead, Joshua Mead (Kristen), Jason Mead (Jacoba), Sara Mead, Benjamin Graves, Andrew Graves (Vanessa), Carissa Tripp (Sam); 15 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Martha Sharer Fund at Shoreline Church of Christ in Muskegon, MI to help educate and support people for the ministry and mission field.
