Stephanie McGraw

Stephanie McGraw, 104 ESCONDIDO -- Stephanie McGraw passed away Friday, July 31, 2009. In her early adult life, she settled and married for the first time to a hairstylist in St. Joseph, Mo. During this marriage, she learned the trade of hairstyling. After ten years this marriage ended in divorce. In the late forties and early fifties she worked for the movie studios and became the personal hairstylist for Irene Dunne and Jane Russell. During this period, she was briefly married to a radio personality by the name of Garland. In 1945, she met and married DeLoss L. McGraw, who was also employed by the studios until becoming an architect. Stephanie's interest in the arts was large throughout her life. From portrait painting, the reconditioning of carousel horses, floral arranging, and holding extraordinary dinner parties, she applied herself. Stephanie McGraw will be remembered fondly by many; all those fortunate enough to have spent an entertaining evening in her company, enjoying stimulating conversation and inspirational companionship will no doubt keep those warm memories for the rest of their lives. Jokes and lively banter kept her guests clamoring to participate in even the most mundane of dishwashing tasks. Stephanie and her husbands move to Escondido in the early eighties was their last place of residence. During this period she had a kumquat ranch and wrote the cookbook, "What Do You Do with a Kumquat?" She made a kumquat pie that was pretty fantastic. In fact she discussed this recipe at length on a local radio cooking show. Stephanie is survived by her stepson, DeLoss McGraw; and four grandchildren. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com