Mary Jean Graves

Mary Jean (Parker) Graves, 92, of Oklahoma City, passed away on September 28th, 2025, at Baptist Village in Oklahoma City.

Mary was born on March 31, 1933 to Arthur Clarence (Tad) and Faye Parker in Dill City, OK. She spent her youth in Dill City and graduated from Dill City High School in 1951. Mary was united in marriage with the love of her life, Donald Graves, on June 3, 1950 in Dill City, OK.

Early in their marriage Mary showed great tenacity and devotion to Don after his injury in the Korean War. She traveled to Denver to visit him in the hospital then returned to Dill City for work at the phone company every other month. Eventually she moved there on her own to be closer to him during his recovery.

Mary and Don had three children, LaDonna in 1955, Keith in 1958, and Gregg in 1960. In addition to being a mother, Mary had multiple different careers throughout her life, including telephone operator, bookkeeper for various businesses, manager of the family-owned sporting goods store, working in an office supply store, and operating several antique stores. Mary was a dedicated employee everywhere she worked but her greatest vocation was being a mother, grandmother and eventually, a great-grandmother.

Mary was a passionate and talented seamstress who often made clothing for her daughter and, later, her granddaughters. Mary always loved a good shopping trip and was thrilled to find a good bargain. Once they became grandparents, Don and Mary spent many hours traveling to attend sporting events, plays, and concerts and just to spend as much time with their grandchildren as possible. They also took many vacations across the United States with their close friends, often choosing to enjoy the adventure in a motorhome. Mary was very involved in the church, teaching Sunday school, participating in Bible study groups, and in women's groups.

Mary was preceded in death by her mother and father, brothers A.C. and Wayne, and sister-in-law Carolyn Parker, her in-laws, Clarence and Agnes Graves and several brothers, sisters and spouses of the Graves family. Mary will be greatly missed by her husband Don, daughter LaDonna Zellmer (David) of Sioux Falls, SD; son Keith (Tammy) of Edmond, OK; son Gregg (Arwin) of Tulsa, OK, grandchildren, Christina (Jon), Joshua (Emily), Sarah (Allan), Michael (Jenna), Mary Lyn (Aaron), Lee (Maddee), Tashay, Candice, and Elizabeth; and 15 great-grandchildren.

A scholarship fund in memory of Mary and in honor of Don has been started at Yukon National Bank. Memorials can be directed there to the Dr. Donald and Mary Graves Scholarship Fund.

Viewing will be held from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 2, 2025 at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 3 at Yukon Bible Church, Yukon, with interment following at the Yukon Cemetery.