George Ernest Graham

1989 - 2025

George Ernest Graham
April 23, 1989 - July 6, 2025
Ernest Graham quietly slipped from this world on July 6, 2025. His unexpected death broke the hearts of everyone who enjoyed his smiling face, warm hugs, intuitive empathy, and unique sense of humor. He patiently worked to please those around him, who in turn often underestimated his intelligence, perseverance, generous spirit, and resourcefulness as he navigated his way through life.
On April 23, 1989, in a Corpus Christi delivery room, Ernest's parents were surprised to learn their son had Down syndrome, but within two months he was enrolled in an Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program. He later attended First Presbyterian Day School, then preschool at Robert Wilson Elementary. As Eason and Henry joined the tribe, "The Brothers" became the heart and soul of a 36-year family journey. In 1995, they moved to Austin where the boys attended Hill Elementary School, Murchison Middle School, and Anderson High School. Ernest played Challenger baseball, joined Cub Scouts with Eason, won an award for "We CAN on Thursdays," assisted the Anderson soccer team, and attended a variety of summer camps. He earned his first paychecks working at the Goodwill Store on Airport Blvd. He walked the stage with Eason when they graduated in May 2009.
Following graduation, Ernest worked in the kitchen at St. David's Episcopal Church in AISD's GO Project, volunteered at the Paramount Theater, and trained for a job at Jimmy Clay / Ray Kizer Golf Courses. By 2011, he was independently taking Metro Access to Austin Community College's STEPS vocational program and McBeth Recreation Center. He also enjoyed the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas (DSACT)'s Book Club and Lifelong Learning with Friends informal classes at UT. In recent years, Ernest volunteered for First Tee at the Harvey Penick golf course where he was named 2019's Volunteer of the Year. He enjoyed having dinner with high school friends and parents in Anderson Gang and going to "my old ranch" on weekends.
Ernest is survived by his parents, Madison and Bess (Floy) Althaus Graham of Austin; his brothers Eason Reid Graham of Austin and Henry Lane Graham and partner Rachel Spotts of Dallas; his uncle Tracy Graham and wife Janet Galaway Graham of Jefferson, TX and cousins Elliott and Alton (wife Vanessa) Graham; his aunt Cindy Graham and partner Bob McReynolds of Bandera; his uncle Chuck (Charles) Pierce of Corpus Christi; his aunt Ellen Althaus-Day and husband Steven Day of Wellsville, NY and cousins Genevieve and Max (wife Crystal) Day; his aunt Patti McClintic Althaus and cousins Paul and Laura Althaus of Houston. He is predeceased by his grandparents, George Madison and LaMoyne K. Gerdes Graham of Corpus Christi and Voy Ernst and Betty Lane Lord Althaus of Fredericksburg; his uncle Voy Ernest (Ernie) Althaus, Jr. of Houston; and his aunt Georgia Ann Graham Pierce of Coppell, TX.
The family wishes to thank Seton Main Hospital's doctors, nurses, and technicians in the ER, ICU, Wound Care, and especially the staff on the third, fifth, and seventh floors. They worked tirelessly to save Ernest's life following emergency surgery for a perforated gastric ulcer, complicated by the discovery of liver and intestinal tumors due to Stage 4 large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
A tribute to Ernest's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 9th at First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary, 8001 Mesa Drive in northwest Austin, followed by a reception in Rissman Hall. Wear your favorite T-shirt to celebrate Ernest's style. Please contact the family to livestream the service. In lieu of flowers, consider donating instead to the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas or to the Mary Lee Foundation (Austin). A more detailed version of this obituary may be found at www.schaetter.com.