Jerry Leon Graham

Jerry Leon Graham of Oswego, Kansas, passed away on September 21, 2025. He attended elementary school in Springdale, Arkansas, and Grove, Oklahoma. He attended junior high school in Jasper, Missouri, before his family moved to Oswego, Kansas, where he graduated in 1959. While attending Coffeyville Jr College on an athletic scholarship, the Detroit Tigers signed him to play baseball. He graduated from Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Jerry later received a Master's in Education from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. He began his teaching and football coaching career at Yukon, Oklahoma, and then at Coweta, Oklahoma. He later moved to Joplin, Missouri, where he served as the Dean of Boys at Memorial High School. Jerry was the principal at Will Rogers Jr. High in Miami, OK, before accepting the position as principal of Miami High School. He retired after twenty-two years in Miami, Oklahoma, and then returned to Oswego, Kansas, to serve as the High School principal. He retired from education in Kansas in 2001. Jerry served on the board of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association. He was a member of the Oklahoma and Kansas Principals Association and the Oklahoma Referees Association and served on the Grand Lake Mental Health Board. Upon returning to Oswego, he served as the board president of the Oswego Golf Course. He was a member of the Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, and the Elks Lodge. Jerry was born on March 23, 1941, to Nolan (Jake) Henton Graham and Mozelle Ruth (Snoddy) Graham, who preceded him in death. In 1962, Jerry married Marilyn Oliver; they had two children together. Later, he married his wife of forty-eight years, Janice (Sparkman) Graham, who survives and resides in Oswego, Kansas. Also surviving are his children, Stephen Graham of Miami, Oklahoma, and Jennifer Frazier, and her husband, Anthony, of Ashland, Missouri; his stepdaughters, Jana Johnson of Miami, Oklahoma, and Joni Vowels, and her husband, Michael, of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was Papaw to his grandchildren, Sara and Patrick Hattaway, Bricynn Barger and Dustin White, Jake Graham and Chasie King, Hailey and Trey Roberts, RyLea and Palmer Watkins, Joshua Graham, Logan Vowels, and Adam Larkin, JoLea Johnson, Lila Frazier, Lily Frazier, and his nine great-grandchildren. Jerry was a member of All Saints' Episcopal Church, Miami, Oklahoma, and the Oswego Golf Course. He enjoyed playing the guitar and banjo, hunting, fishing, playing golf, and attending his grandchildren's activities. His love of life was to have fun with his family, friends, and faculty. He was a friend and mentor to many. His kind spirit and his joyful laugh will be greatly missed. Visitation will be at the All Saints' Episcopal Church in Miami, Oklahoma, on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. At his request, a private family burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Fairland Cemetery in Fairland, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation to the Miami Public School Enrichment Foundation and the Oswego Public Schools' Finding a Purpose Scholarship Fund. Services have been entrusted to Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami, Oklahoma. Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Jerry's Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.