Alice Deering Graves

GRAVES Alice Deering Graves, 88, of Westport, died peacefully in her home Sunday November 29th. The wife of Royal S. Graves, Alice was born September 4th 1921 on her family's farm in Waterford, Maine, the daughter of Wilson and Helen (Deering) Morse. After attending the one-room Waterford public school through 8th grade she graduated from Bridgeton Academy and Westbrook Junior College. Alice married Royal S. Graves at the Yale Chapel in May 1944, the couple recently celebrated 65 years of marriage. Alice and family moved to Westport, in June 1966, and soon after she began teaching at the Westport-Weston Cooperative Nursery School, a position she greatly enjoyed, retiring in 1987. At home she spent many hours working in her gardens, and watching birds in her yard. Summers were happily spent at her cottage in Waterford close to family and surrounded by nature. Alice worked throughout her adult life on issues of civil rights and social justice. She marched on Washington DC in 1963 and listened to Dr. Martin Luther King deliver his "I have a Dream" speech.In Westport, Alice and Royal became active members of the Unitarian Church, and she served on the Social Justice Committee for many years. Peace and Human Rights were a life long focus. She protested our involvement in Vietnam and our entry into Iraq. She worked against apartheid in South Africa and for refugees in Darfur. She supported low-income housing in Fairfield county and bootstrap development/micro-loans through the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA). Alice is survived by her husband, Royal, and her two sons, Sandy Graves and his wife JianQun of Wethersfield, and Allan Graves and his wife Patty of Newtown. Her two grandchildren, Meghan Graves of Newtown, and Evan Graves and his wife Megan Turner of Hoboken, NJ. Also survived by her sister, Marian L. Morse of South Paris, Maine; and the many beloved nieces and nephews in the family of her late brother Frank Morse of Waterford Maine.The Family encourages all friends to gather with them Sunday, December 13th at 5 p.m. at the Westport Unitarian Church 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport tocelebrate her life through music, words, and stories. Reception to follow, with light refreshments. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a worthy cause.