Ethel Jean Purvis Graves was born September 29, 1926 in Bancroft, Idaho and passed peacefully surrounded by family in Kalispell Montana May 13, 2015.

Ethel grew up in the Sun River Valley graduating from Simms High School in 1944. She attended the College of Great Falls where she received her Bachelor of Science degree. She married Richard (Shorty) Graves October 11, 1947 and spent her life teaching, being a farmers’ wife and raising her 5 children only to adopt a sixth when all the children left home.

Ethel loved children and loved to sing. She was active in Delta Kappa Gamma, Sweet Adeline’s, a member of the Sun River Valley Lions Club and Sun River United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Mary Purvis, husband Richard (Shorty) Graves, son Jim, daughter Linda Graves Vollrath, and her 7 siblings.

She is survived by four children, Richard (Rich) Graves (Susan) Pocatello, ID, Jo Ann Graves-Gill (Paul) Kalispell, MT, Ray Graves (Betsy) Renton, WA, Bonnie Richardson (Mike) Appleton, WI; grandchildren, Dylan Graves (Cami), Marissa Church (Ron), Lindsay McClanahan (Kris), Sarah Graves (Zach), Sage Graves, Elizabeth, Samantha, and Christopher Richardson; sister-in-law Patricia Swartzback and many nieces and nephews.

Ethel moved to Prestige Assisted Living Center in Kalispell in October 2006 to be closer to her daughter Jo Ann. We would all like to thank the staff, especially the caregivers from the Memory Care Center for the love and wonderful care they gave to Mom. Therefore, there will be a service held at Prestige Assisted Living in Kalispell on Thurs. May 28 at 2:30pm. As well as a service at Croxford Funeral Home Great Falls MT, May 30th at 10am with a reception to follow at Sun River United Methodist Church, Sun River MT.

The family request contributions may be given to Good Grief Camp, P.O. Box 9555 Kalispell, MT 59904.

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