Joseph “Joey” E. DeGrave Jr., 66, of Washington, passed away on January 4, 2026, in Premier Washington.
He was born February 27, 1959, a son of the late Joseph E. DeGrave Sr. and Mary Louise Thielet DeGrave.
Joseph was a graduate of Canon-McMillan High School.
He began work with Local 1058 in 1979 doing highway construction until he retired.
Joseph loved hunting, fishing, doing word search books, and going to gun bashes. He loved to test his luck with scratch-offs even if he never won more than enough to buy the next ticket. Nothing was more important to him than spending time with his family.
On September 16, 1978, he married Michele Burke DeGrave, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Justin DeGrave; a sister, Mary (Greg) Hoyer; six nieces and nephews, Conner and Larkyn Hoyer, Tiffany and Jaclyn Zirwas, Melissa (John Brizzee) DeMarco, and Michael Griffith; nine great-nieces and great-nephews, Kiersten (fiancé Eli Corning), Cameryn, and Anthony DeMarco, Adam, Gannon, Max, Quinn, Tegan, and Scully Griffith; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He is preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by a brother, Donald DeGrave; and a sister, Debra DeGrave.
Arrangements are private and entrusted to William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
925 Allison Avenue, Washington, PA 15301

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