Norma Maxine Graves

Presque Isle - Norma Maxine (Ginn) Graves, born May 10th, 1929, went home to be with Lord on May 6th, 2025.
She was the daughter of Herman and Avis (Nightingale) Ginn of Fort Fairfield and the wife of George W. (Bud) Graves, Retired Maine State Police.
Norma was born and raised in Fort Fairfield, Maine where she graduated from Fort Fairfield High School in 1947. She met the love of her life, Bud, a former US Navy Sailor, from Mars Hill, Maine that summer and they were married on October 31, 1947. She always talked about how hard it was when they were first married because she had three little boys right away and had to move seven times during Bud's early career as a Caribou Police Officer and then a Maine State Trooper. They finally settled in Presque Isle where she was a stay-at-home mom raising 4 boys and 2 girls over the next 30 years. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother who didn't even get a driver's license until her children were grown. After that she worked for the American Red Cross for many years as a specimen transporter delivering units of blood to the Aroostook County Hospitals. Often, she would have to travel to Sherman to meet another transporter bringing the blood from Bangor. Many times, if she got called out at night, Bud would drive her because he didn't want her on the snow-covered roads alone at night. After she survived endometrial cancer in her early 50's, Bud retired, and they started traveling in an RV making a trip to Denver to see their son and spent many winters in Florida before staying there full time when they were unable to travel. During the traveling years they sold their residence on Academy St and maintained a small cottage at their son's residence to return to in the summer.
Norma was well known by the law enforcement officers in the County. Bud was constantly bringing people by the house that needed a meal or a cup of coffee. Every New Year's Eve for many years she would make a big pot of Oyster Stew and Bud would invite any officers on duty in the area to stop by and have a dish of stew.
Norma spent 10 and ½ years in Florida after Bud's passing under the watchful eye of several of her children. All of her children, several friends and a special family member Nancy Porter, had a hand in helping her maintain her own residence and independence as long as she could. On her birthday in 2023 she moved to North Carolina to live with her daughter Mary Jayne and son-in-law Woody. They, along with their special dog Lucky, were able to give her a loving home to live out her final years. She was able to make a final trip back home to Presque Isle for Christmas in 2023 to be with family and friends and see a couple of Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchildren she had never met. Last year she received over 100 cards for her 95th birthday and was looking forward to her 96th this week.
She was friendly to everyone, and it was hard to find anyone who didn't like her. She was always smiling and welcoming to friends and strangers. The pastor of her church in New Bern said he only had to look down at Norma's beautiful smile to brighten his day.
She is predeceased by her parents, Herman and Avis Ginn, husband of 66 years, George (Bud) Graves; sisters Phyllis (Milton) Shaw, Janette L. (Al) Wardwell, and Faustina (Harold) Clark; brothers John (Cora) Ginn and Charles Ginn. And a granddaughter Julie E(Graves) Harvath.
She is survived by sons John Graves, Ronald(Lori) Graves, Robert(Linda) Graves, Ralph "Jim"(Paula) Graves; and daughters Mary Jayne(Roy) "Woody" Woodside and Debra(Barry) Littlefield. 12 Grandchildren, 16 Great-Grandchildren, and 3 Great- Great Grandchildren.
Relatives and friends may visit at 12:00 PM Monday, May 12, 2025, at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St. Presque Isle, where a service will be conducted at 1:00 PM, with the Rev. Larry Palmer officiating. The family asks that you join them for a time of refreshment and remembrance at the Duncan-Graves Reception Room, immediately following the service. Interment will take place at Fairmount Cemetery at 3:00 PM. Arrangements in care of Duncan-graves Funeral Home. A complete obituary may be viewed in a later edition of The County. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.duncan-graves.com