ETNA – Kenneth Woodrow Graves, 92, passed away May 19, 2007, surrounded by his loving family at his home. He was born Nov. 3, 1914, in Etna, a son of Charles and Gladys (Sylvester) Graves. He attended schools in Etna and graduated from Carmel High School. On April 3, 1937, he married Arlene Peterson. They spent 70 loving years together. Kenneth was a loving father and grandfather to seven children, 19 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. He was a self-employed woodsman and farmer. His love of gardening made him many friends, and he ran a vegetable stand at his home in Etna for many years. At the time of his death, he was planning this year’s gardens. He also was an avid sportsman, enjoying hunt-ing, fishing and trapping. Ken-neth passed this along to his children, grandchildren and many of his great-grandchildren. He was a lifetime member of the Maine Trapper’s Association and a member of the Sportsmans Alliance of Maine. He was a respected member of the community and he held the Boston Post Cane, honoring him as Etna’s oldest citizen. He is survived by his loving wife, Arlene; his loving children, Arthur Graves, Rebecca and husband, Leslie Towle, Berkley Graves, and Dale and wife, Donna Graves, all of Etna; two special former daughters-in-law, Cheryl Graves of Etna and Sandy Graves of St. Albans, who always stayed part of the family; two sisters, Gladys Merrill of Newport and Jo “Maxine” and husband, Floyd Harding, of Stetson; three sisters-in-law, Delana, Flora and Ida Graves, all of Etna; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Kenneth was predeceased by three children, Donna, Raymond and Kenneth Robert Graves; two grandchildren, Kirk Graves and Ryan Detoir; a sister and her husband, Olive and Roland Fitts; four brothers, Neal, Herbert, John and Charles Graves Jr.; two brothers-in-law, Nathan Merrill and Victor Peterson; two sisters-in-law and their husbands, Winnie and Wayne Withee and Mildred and Loren Clark. He will be missed every day by his family and some special neigh-bors, who were like family and always helping out, Warren Shaw Jr. and Debbie and Bill Armstrong. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Crosby & Neal, 117 Main St., Newport, where funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, with his grandson, the Rev. Kenneth Graves officiating. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Etna. Those who wish may sign an online register at www.CrosbyNeal.com
KENNETH W. GRAVES
