Shirley Carole (Vesper) Graves, 83, formerly of Staunton, died on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, at Generations Care Center in Lincoln, following a two-year battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Private graveside services were held at Memorial Park Cemetery in Staunton. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton assisted the family.
Mrs. Graves was born Jan. 10, 1935, in rural Staunton, to William F. and Beatrice I. (Hastings) Vesper. She married Fred D. Graves in Denver, CO, and he survives.
She graduated from Staunton High School with the class of 1952, then moved to Denver, CO, where she met and married her husband.
Mrs. Graves served as an administrator for the State of Illinois for nearly 30 years. After her retirement, she and her husband traveled the world, visiting Australia, Thailand, Egypt, Italy, Panama, Vietnam, many of the Caribbean Islands and more.
She hosted family dinners for her four children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren every Sunday evening for 36 years, until she was hospitalized last year.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Graves is survived by two daughters, Carla Coury of New Orleans, LA, and Diane (Craig) Wilson of Litchfield; two sons, Dale (Debbie) Graves of Litchfield and Darren (fiancee Lisa Costin) Graves of Staunton; 11 grandchildren, Bethany (Eric) Paulsen of New Orleans, LA, Ben (Megan) Culp of Baton Rouge, LA, Nathan (Pamela) Culp of Wilmington, NC, Gregory Culp of Augusta, GA, Danny (Ann) Kovaly of Alhambra, Elizabeth (Matt) Willis of St. Louis, MO, Miranda (Shaun) Martin of St. Louis, MO, Dalton and Grace Graves, both of Staunton and Jackson and Cooper Wilson, both of Litchfield; seven great-grandchildren, Beau Willis, Emmet Paulsen, Julia, Wesley, Owen and Clayton Culp and Baby Martin who is due very soon; one brother, Bill Vesper of Staunton; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; a sister; and a son-in-law.
Memorials may be directed to the Steve Gleason Initiative Foundation at www.teamgleason.org/donate.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.williamsonfh.com.
