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1937
2016
Jama Graham, of Rolla, passed away on June 7, 2016 at the age of 79. Jama was born January 6, 1937 to the late Clark S. and Lucile (Campbell) Kauffman.
Jama is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 25 years, Donald E. Graham; her three children, Kim (Steve) Oppliger, Marty Allison (Vickie), Cathy Allison ( Liene); three step-daughters, Dana (Larry) Hayes, Dalyn (John) Hayakawa and Devon (Shawn) Grady; three grandchildren, Michael Martin Oppliger, Cody Don Allison, and Amanda Leigh Oppliger; great grandson, Hayden Michael; step grandchildren, Logan Hayes, Conner Hayes, Adam Hayakawa, Bracie Hayakawa, Jordan, Tyler, Evan and Clayton Kolb. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Jean Kauffman, several nieces and nephews, and many friends.
Jama was a 1954 graduate of Rolla High School, a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, a member of Who's New and You, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Red Hat Society, a founding member of the Rhea Saddle Club, was a recent inductee into the Daughters of The American Revolution, and belonged to the GreenTree Christian Church.
Jama worked for United Telephone Company while in high school and two years after graduation she began a life as a military spouse, raising three children, moving 22 times, and living all over the country and overseas. She eventually began a career in computers and data processing in the 1970's, working at the USGS, local banks, South Central Oil Company where she was the first female department manager, and the Missouri Census Bureau. She also worked at UMR where she worked with research graduate students on LANSAT data from some of the first space satellites. She had an entrepreneurial spirit and owned and operated Allison's Catering and Bruno's Restaurant.
Jama loved to sew, cook, read, enjoyed collecting Kewpie Dolls, and was a fierce competitor at card games. She loved serving her community and volunteered her time and talents at The Russell House, NAMI, and other philanthropic projects through her sorority and other service organizations.
She mostly enjoyed spending time with her family and many friends.
In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her first husband, Donny Lee Allison (1980), and her brother Richard (Dick) Kauffman.
There will be a Celebration of Life Service at the GreenTree Christian Church in Rolla on Monday, June 13, 2016, at 2 pm, with visitation beginning at 1 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests monetary donations to the GreenTree Christian Church.
The family is planning a private interment at Rhea Cemetery.
Online condolences may be offered at www.nullandsonfuneralhome.com
All arrangements are under the direction of the Null & Son Funeral Home in Rolla.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Null & Son Funeral Home.
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