Kenneth Franklin Graham

Kenneth Franklin Graham

March 24, 1943 - August 10, 2023

Kenneth Franklin Graham, "Ken", "Pookie" was born to Joseph and Beatrice Graham in Cincinnati, Ohio March 24, 1943. He enjoyed his childhood with his brother James and parents in Cincinnati and his family hometown of Piqua, Ohio. His childhood was spent playing cards, fishing, eating homemade pie and running a lawn mowing service. Later he worked as a day laborer for the railroad and graduated to giving tours and serving patrons at a brewery near Crosley Field, creating two lifelong loves- baseball and beer. All the while he worked hard on his studies and always had a knack for numbers. Ken enrolled in Franklin and Marshall. He enjoyed the accolades of campus life so much so after a year there he entered the USMC. Ken achieved the rank of Sergeant serving in Parris Island and abroad. He returned to finish his education at Temple University where he subsequently graduated with an accountancy degree and met his future wife Joy. They married and moved from Philadelphia to Corvallis, Oregon where they welcomed their daughter Christy in 1972. Ken began his private accountancy practice and secretarial service next to the Tally Ho, the restaurant he and his wife ran together. Generous hearted Graham would have given it all away if he could have and always enjoyed providing something that was quality. Ken built deep community roots in Corvallis and made lifelong friends during his time there. His open and warm nature made him easy to love and those who knew him did indeed. He became owner in a uniform store, The Chimney Corner, and Lawerence Leather Company founded in Portland in 1857. He was the first business owner to successfully apply for and receive a liquor license adjacent to the OSU campus. After a short stint managing a general store for a fish packing company in Elfin Cove, Alaska Ken and his family moved to Bend, Oregon where he found his dream home, the one he called his favorite campsite, ever. There he spent many happy years and enjoyed his family and his favorite Newfoundland dogs, gentle giants just like Ken. He made even more wonderful friends inevitably. He later shared this mountain home with his second wife Kristy Jewett who passed there in 2018. Ken retired officially this year and was of service to those in need of his sage financial and tax advice for over 50 years. He was an excellent mediator and dedicated to finding the best in everyone while maintaining the hope for the best for everyone. He was full of levity in what can be the darkening horizon of taxes. Ken enjoyed road trips throughout the West with real fondness for rural roads. His expansive nature inspired all who knew him to explore our own. He passed as he lived- on his own terms. He was in his spot surrounded by love and full of peace with baseball on the tv. He is survived by his brother James and his daughter Carolyn's family, his first wife Joy, his daughter Christy and her husband Mike, his grandson and delight Graham. All who knew Ken were inspired by his generous heart and humor and many of us are better people because of the love and acceptance he gave us.