Kendra Sue Graham

Kendra Sue Graham, 82

Kendra Sue Graham passed away Sunday, Feb. 15, in her Sagle, Idaho, home of 21 years, with her dog Mikey by her side.

Teacher, writer, poet, musician, master horsewoman and lover of all wildlife. Gardener, dog lover/rescuer, beloved of (almost) all who knew her. Dear friend with a heart of gold and always looking for ways to help others.

Kendra was born in Helena, Montana, and spent the first years of her life nurtured by the huge expanses of mountains, sky and wildlife. As a young girl, her family moved to the east coast (New York and New Jersey) where she experienced the high life of chauffeurs, boarding school and the artistic drama of New York in the '60s. She graduated from Barnard School (Columbia University, New York City) and started her teaching career at Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn. Teaching remained a passion her entire life, encouraging the young children who would visit her in her later years.

After finding many friendships on the East Coast (in touch with many throughout her life) the draw back to the mountains was too strong and she moved to northeastern Washington state. There she made many new friends, built a home and learned the crafts of cheese-making, canning, gardening (lots of potatoes and cabbages), long rides in the mountains, many dear horse partners, and always at least one dog friend. And of course writing. She mourned the early death of her brother, Douglas Graham, and cared for her parents in their final days (Thomas and Evelyn Mattmiller Graham of Bellevue, Washington) as well as elders near her home.

In 2004, Kendra moved to Sagle, Idaho, to a small cabin where she found joy in watching the elk and deer eat apples off the trees, too many wild turkeys, and countless song birds and woodpeckers, and the occasional bald eagle. Gardening was not to be at her home, as the ground squirrels had other plans, so she helped her neighbor every year grow, among other things, cabbages, potatoes, and way too many zucchini.

As a writer, she published four books and was working on her fifth. Poems galore, and music always. She wrote songs, sang often for her church, and would rather spend time creating than almost anything else.

Kendra will be missed by so many. She is survived by her beloved daughter, Naja Jensen (San Francisco); sister-in-law, Carie Graham (Montana); nephews, Derek and Stuart; sister, Penny and family (Bellevue, Washington); and dear friend, Jean Hodges (Sagle).

Sleep in peace, dear Kendra, until we meet again.

A celebration of life will be held in early May in Sagle.

Family and friends are invited to sign Kendra's online guest book at coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.