Johnny Latham Graves, 76, a Nacogdoches native, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2017 at home in The Woodlands where he and his wife Nancy Boyette Graves recently moved to be closer to his daughters. Born in Gary, Texas to Charles and Velma Graves on March 25, 1940. Johnny attended grade school in Carthage Texas. After he graduated from Carthage High School, Johnny attended the University of North Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Science in General Business in 1961. Johnny was a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. The summer before his senior year of college, he traveled by train to West Virginia where he sold family Bibles, door to door. During his time in West Virginia, he met his soon-to-be-bride. After a short courting period, he graduated from college and married Betty Sue Stewart on January 6, 1962. Johnny and Betty moved to Nacogdoches in 1970, where they resided in Appleby, Texas. They were married for 45 years, until Betty passed away in 2007. Johnny and Betty had three daughters, named Johonna, Jaime, and Juli. He fell naturally into fatherhood and became the light of their lives. Johnny took a great deal of pride in his girls and wouldn't hesitate to tell anyone who would listen about how proud he was of them. He always joked that, even though he never had any sons, he 'wouldn't trade his girls for a golden monkey.' They whole-heartedly returned his love and devotion. After Betty passed away, he met and married Nancy Boyette on June 11, 2011, who was also a native of his hometown of Carthage. Johnny was an active member of his community and spent 40 years building his insurance agency in Nacogdoches. In his spare time he loved to hunt, fish and spend time with his family at his brother Tommy's lake house on Lake Murvaul in Panola County. He also loved classic cars, gardening, playing 42 dominoes and working in his yard. In 1995, Johnny's official name became 'Papa' after his first granddaughter, Lauren Hunter Stanley, was born. Shortly after, three more grandchildren blessed his life. Charles "Chase" Fisher Stanley, John Michael Calhoun and Chloe Grace Calhoun and Lauren became the light of his life. He enjoyed so many activities with his grandchildren and loved watching them play sports and perform in dance recitals. If you spent even one minute with him you know Johnny Graves was the salt of the earth and someone people admired. His family, insurance clients, friends as well as his community will dearly miss him and feel the void for years to come. Mr. Graves was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Stewart Graves, on January 31, 2007; his parents, Charles Latham Graves and Velma Mae Sullivan Graves; and his brother, Charles Thomas Graves. His survivors include his wife, Nancy Boyette Graves; daughters, Johonna Graves Stanley and husband Bob, Jaime Graves Calhoun and husband Michael, and Juli Graves Peeples and husband Andrew; and grandchildren, Lauren Stanley, Charles Stanley, John Michael Calhoun, and Chloe Calhoun. Services are set for 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 23, 2017, at First Baptist Church in Garrison, Texas, with Bro. John N. McGuire officiating. Interment will follow at Cold Springs Cemetery in Garrison, Texas.
Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.
Published in The Daily Sentinel on Feb. 23, 2017