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Nancy Jane Graham

1950 - 2025

Nancy Jane Graham obituary, 1950-2025, Santa Barbara, CA

BORN

1950

DIED

2025

Nancy Graham Obituary

Nancy Graham passed into God's gracious hands April 21, 2025. Nancy and her husband, Richard, moved to Blythe in 1972 after both graduated from college.

Nancy was an oil, pen and ink artist, hiker and desert explorer, volunteer and organizer. Her early career, besides a great mom to Matt (1972) and Aaro (1975) Graham, included 10 years as a Palo Verde College Instructor of Art History and Artistic Design. During that time, she initiated and established The Palo Verde Historical Museum in Blythe. She lobbied for early grants to rent a building for housing and showing Palo Verde Valley artifacts. She and co-founder, Erin Port began a volunteer group to assemble and catalog these pioneer treasures. This still flourishes and has provided wonderful cultural history for Blythe families for almost 50 years.

Nancy served on several panels for the California Arts Council in Sacramento and as commissioner on the Riverside County Historical Commission. For her volunteer work, Nancy received 2 Congressional Recognitions from Al McCandless, a U.S. Congressional Representative in Riverside County, and Lois Capps, a U.S. Congressional Representative in Santa Barbara County.

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Nancy was married to Richard Graham for 56 years. She is survived by two sons, Matt and Aaron (Gretchen), grandchildren Madisyn (Brant), Tabatha, Brody, Ellie, and beautiful 7-month-old great granddaughter, Amora. During Richard and Nancy's wonderful marriage, they have lived and worked in many different areas; New Orleans, Flagstaff, Arizona, Washington, D.C., Blythe, Santa Maria, and finally settled in Santa Barbara. Nancy and Richard also traveled the world and visited over one hundred countries, where they experienced different cultures and lifestyles.

Nancy and Richard carried on the family tradition in the automobile business and they co owned Graham Chevrolet Cadillac, Saab in Santa Barbara for 25 years.

Nancy felt blessed to have lived 74 amazing years. She always kept a positive attitude and inspired many by her perseverance fighting Parkinson's Disease despite her declining health over the last 10 years. Any memorial recognition on Nancy's behalf can be directed to Palo Verde Historical Museum and Society in Blythe, California or the Parkinson's Association of Santa Barbara.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Palo Verde Valley Times & Quartzsite Times from May 2 to May 31, 2025.

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