MARIE GRAVES

MARIE (McLAUGHLIN) GRAVES, 79 passed away on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. A lifelong resident of Fort Wayne, she was the current owner and President of Statewide Trucking, and past Vice-President and owner of Graves Trucking, a company founded by her and her husband, Chuck. She spent the majority of her lifetime building a company and raising five children. In her leisure time, Chuck tried to convince her to spend time in Wyoming; however, her heart was happiest in Ocean Ridge, Fla. It was there where the family enjoyed spending time with great-grandma Graves, aka Triple G. When in Fort Wayne, Marie's passion was reading. She could always be found on the sofa or in her sun porch reading a book alongside her best friend Mitzi, who died in 2015 and who was recently replaced with Coco, her new puppy. Marie will best be remembered for being a kind and thoughtful person who made friends everywhere she went from the post office to the grocery store. She will always be in the hearts of her children because she was the best mother she could possibly be. She is survived by daughters, Darlene Graves, Cindy Rodenbeck-Kennell, Rhonda Biddlecome (Mike), Terri Jenkins; son, Rick Graves; 16 grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; daughter, Christine Lynette; and grandchildren, Jeremy Carpenter and Amber Graves. Service is 1:30 p.m. Thursday at D.O. McCombs Covington Knolls Funeral Home, with calling one hour prior to service. Calling also from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Preferred memorials to the Carpenter-Rodenbeck Scholarship Fund, Concordia High School; Allen County S.P.C.A., or Hospice of Fort Wayne.