Tuesday, July 20, 2010


After the luncheon for the family, held back at the ward meetinghouse, Anita's family gathered for a picture.
She is seated, wearing the red dress and dark scarf. Her only sister, Lawana (in black) is seated next to her and holding her hand. Her daughter Brenda, in red, is seated next to Lawana. Anita's younger brother Laverl and his wife Mary, from Ramah, New Mexico, are standing immediately behind her, in white.
Anita's two sons, Danny and Curtis are in the back row, both white shirts and ties and big smiles. You can be sure that Anita's children and grandchildren will be a great strength to her in the days ahead.

The casket bearers were all Graff's: a son, Curtis (red tie), nephews and grandsons. The littlest grandson, 9 yrs or so, was holding to the handle in the back of the group(not seen). As they walked by me I heard him say, "Grandpa, you are heavy!"
They all loved this man. He had included them all in the work of the family farm. He had been such a part of their personal lives all during their growing up years.

We stayed the night in a nearby hotel and attended funeral services on Monday, July 19, at the American Fork LDS 11th Ward. We felt it was important to be there in behalf of my cousin Anita, whose health has not been good. Her husband Max, 77, was much beloved by his family, friends and fellow church members for so many sterling qualities. It was a very uplifting, inspiring service. They laid his body to rest here in the American Fork City cemetary, next to the graves of his parents. The slopes of Mount Timpanogas can be seen in the distance.

Another look at the Caribou mountain range as we headed down I-15 out of Pocatello.

On Sunday, July 18, after attending Sacrament meeting with our Rexburg family we were on the road again, heading south on US 20 and then I-15 through southeast Idaho and on down through northern Utah to American Fork to the attend the funeral services of Max Graff, my cousin Anita's husband, a victim of pancreatic cancer.
This is a view to the east as you leave Pocatello and drop down into the mining area of Inkam, with the great Caribou mountain range in the distance.