RINDA GRAVES

Rinda Beatrice Taylor Graves 1917 ~ 2011 Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Rinda Beatrice Taylor Erickson Graves completed a long, fruitful life and returned to her Heavenly Father at age 93 on March 17, 2011. Rinda was born Dec. 1, 1917, in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, the fifth child of Harvey Hyrum and Mary Alice Pierce Taylor. She was reared in the Mormon colonies of Juarez and Dublan, Mexico. Her parents had 12 children and, after the death of her mother, her father married Rhoda Clark, who had a son, to make 13 siblings in the family. Rinda was an excellent student and was valedictorian of her eighth grade and high school senior classes at Juarez Stake Academy. She fulfilled an LDS mission to Mexico City, where she was a translator, in addition to regular missionary work. Her mother passed away while Rinda was on her mission. Rinda attended Brigham Young University, earning a BA in Spanish, with a minor in secondary education. She was a teacher all of her life. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States, and always remained active in the Spanish-speaking community of Salt Lake. Rinda married a fellow BYU student, Evan Keith Erickson, on July 18, 1942. Keith was killed in an explosion at his workplace just two weeks later. Rinda finished her degree and worked several jobs to deal with the sorrow. On Dec. 13, 1946, she married James Vernon Graves, a widower with a young son. They were married nearly 56 years, until his death in 2002. Rinda and Jimmy had four children of their own, and made their home in Rose Park since 1951. They were members of the LDS Mexican Branch, Spanish-speaking wards, and several Rose Park wards over the years. Her wit, wisdom and generosity greatly enriched the lives of her friends and family. Rinda was a talented linguist, teaching Spanish, French, and Portuguese at various times. She taught at Brigham Young High School in Provo during the 1940s, and at Evergreen Junior High and throughout the Granite School District in Salt Lake in the 1960s-70s. She held numerous positions in the LDS Church, her favorite being Relief Society Literature Leader. She was an active member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and a Shakespeare scholar, teaching the subject in Spanish and English. Rinda loved genealogy, and did extensive work on her family lines. She was a master quilt-maker, crafting quilts for each of her children, grandchildren, and others until her eyesight failed. She was an avid seamstress, gardener and stamp collector, and loved doing arts and crafts, puzzles, word searches, etc. Rinda is survived by her brothers Daniel (Mariana), Claudius (Mimi), and Ashton (June) Taylor; children, Rinda Marie and Mickey Wynn; Alice Lynne Bond; Robert Keith and Lanette Graves; James Roger Graves and Jennifer Simmons; and Allen Willard and Colleen Graves; grandchildren, Curtis and Emily, Steven and Julie, Ron and Diana, Jerry and Meghan Graves; Lori and Jim Barkes, Beth and Bill Winsor; Shannon and Chris Moralez; Dale Wynn; Rick and Katrena, Brian and Jessica, Brett and Melissa, Christopher and Alyssa Bond; Kerry, Jim and Martha, and Ryan Graves; Bonnie Graves and Adrian Sexton; Andrea and Jared Bowden; Stephanie Graves and Cody Nesi; 37 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; special cousin Louise Abegg Clarke; numerous beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and stepmother; siblings Leroy, Mennell, Lynn, Maudie, Joseph Taylor; Elizabeth Young, Martha Adams, Mary Alice Turner, Ethel Butterfield; granddaughter Cynthia Lynne Bond; granddaughter-in-law Laura Graves, and great-grandchildren Kaleb, Kelsey, and Cameron Graves. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 22, at 11:30 a.m. at the Rose Park Stake Center, 760 North 1200 West, Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held Monday, March 21, from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, and at the church on Tuesday at 10 a.m. prior to the service. Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery, 1950 E. 10600 South. Special thanks to daughter Alice Bond, who served as live-in caregiver and made Rinda's final years comfortable. The family also wishes to thank the entire Haven Healthcare & Hospice team for their loving care.