Mel Graham

Melvyn Leigh Roy Graham passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 17th, surrounded by his children and loved ones. Born May 2, 1938, he spent 87 years building a legacy of love, honor and character in his family and business, both of which continue strongly in his honor.
Mel was born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Benson, Arizona. He was the only child of Walter and Eva Graham. After serving in the Navy, Mel returned to find work in El Paso, where he met Liz (Sarah Elizabeth) Marr and fell in love. They were married on February 17, 1962. Mel and Liz moved to Safford in 1964 where they resided together for the next 59 years. In 1965 Mel was recruited by Allstate Insurance and ultimately opened an agency where for the next 35 years he built a reputation for integrity, reliability, and a sincere commitment to his customers.
A fixture in the Graham County business community, Mel was a regular of the Safford downtown coffee club for over 50 years. Mel loved people as the lengthy list of his long-time friends attests. His children recount all these years later that when growing up they could never get away with anything since there was always someone that dad knew that would "inform" on them.
Mel is survived by: sons, Mark (Rachelle) Graham and Tim (Liz) Graham; and his daughter, Lisa (Brian) Norwood; fifteen grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mel will be conducted Saturday morning, May 31, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Vining Funeral Home's "Chapel of the Valley".
The family will receive friends Saturday morning, May 31, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. until service time at 10:00 a.m., also at the funeral home.