Dr. Max D. Graves

News Death Notice

GRAVES, Dr. Max D. Dr. Max D. Graves passed away peacefully at his home on October 23, 2009, five days before his 91st birthday, with his wife and family at his side. Dr. Graves was born and raised in Lincoln, Kansas, one of eight siblings including his single surviving sister Opal Long of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He attended Wesleyan University in Salina, and graduated from the University of Kansas and later the KU School of Medicine. While he was a medical student, Max met and married Esther Louise Reinking. They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on December 23, 2008. Dr. Graves did his residency training in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania before starting psychiatry practice in Springfield, Ohio in 1949. As Springfield's first psychiatrist, he developed a comprehensive behavioral health care program for the residents of Clark County, Ohio. He was dedicated to providing care to the mentally ill with dignity and respect. He served as Director of Springfield's Mercy Hospital inpatient psychiatric service, and was actively involved in the local and state medical societies. Dr. Graves was awarded Life Fellow status of the American Psychiatric Association, served as President of the Ohio Psychiatric Association, and was Chairman of the Ohio State Medical Association's Committee for Mental Health. In addition, he served as a board member of the Springfield Ohio School District for 16 years. In his leisure time Max enjoyed flying his Cessna 182 aircraft, sometimes to visit family in Kansas and other times to deliver his kids to camp or college. His sister Pauline would watch for her brother to fly low over her farm and tip his wing, so she would know when to pick him up at the airstrip in Lincoln. After retiring in 1998, Max returned to his native state of Kansas and enjoyed living with his wife Esther in Lawrence for ten years. He volunteered at the Bert Nash Community Psychiatric Center in Lawrence and in 2007 received the Pioneer Award for his dedication in providing care for the mentally ill. Living in Lawrence provided Max and Esther an opportunity to spend more time with their daughter Susan's family in Kansas City, especially grandsons Sam and Will. Max also rekindled his interest in music, playing the cornet in Lawrence's New Horizons Senior Band until his 90th birthday. Dr. and Mrs. Graves raised four children born between 1946 and 1950. They are Dr. Robert Graves and his wife Mary of Grand Junction, Colorado, Mrs. Susan Borge and her husband Douglas of Kansas City, Mrs. Christine Allen and her husband Mark of Olympia, Washington, and Dr. Jay Graves and his wife Gerry of Old Lyme, Connecticut. Their beloved grandchildren are Michael Graves and his wife Lindsay, Mavourneen and Camille Graves, Samuel and Will Borge, Lukas Allen, Matthew Graves, and Ashley Allen Jorgensen and her husband Eivind. Max Graves, a loving husband, dad, and grandfather, never stopped giving. He showed us the way to a life of dignity, honesty, generosity, and respect. At his death, he donated his body to the KU Medical School. His family wishes to thank Kansas City Hospice and the community of Tallgrass Creek for their care and support in his final days.