In Memory of

Sally G. Graham

August 11, 1933 - October 26, 2022

Obituary

Sally G. Graham, 89, longtime resident of Lee’s Summit, MO, died peacefully while sleeping at the John Knox Village Care Center on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. Sally was born August 11, 1933 in Chicago, IL. To Florence (Penwell) and Albert Lewis. Sally married the love of her life, John C. Graham, Sr. on September 17, 1955, in Richmond, MO. John and Sally had nine sons, eighteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren; son Scott (Edie) and their son John Matthew; John, Jr. and children Ryan and Megan; Andy (Nancy) and children Jack, Michael and Katherine; Bruce (Joy) and children Brandon, John and Joe; Brian (Brenda) and children Claire, Lucy and Henry; Doug and children Tiffany and Sara; Don (Luz) and his children Austin and Thomas; David; Michael (Tracy) and his children James and Lily.

Sally was preceded in death by John, her husband of 62 years, her brother Bob and son David, who passed away just three months after John.

Sally is also survived by her younger brother Doug, niece Elizabeth and nephew Bradley.

Sally was born in Chicago and as a youngster moved to Kansas City where she attended Southwest High School. She provided care in the home to her mother who was stricken with MS during Sally’s late adolescence. The demands of care for her mother prevented Sally from attending college. At age 22, she met and married John and they immediately began their family that grew to nine sons. It was during those childbearing years that Sally modeled maternity clothes for Emery, Bird, Thayer department stores. Her early years were dedicated to raising their boys.

Her early years of marriage were spent on the farm. With large gardens, Sally canned, froze and picked much of the annual produce. This was both a bonding experience and a teaching experience for Sally and her sons. Sally was awarded the Missouri PTA Life Membership for her extensive involvement with Lee’s Summit Schools through the years. Sally served the Tigers Athletic Booster club through her son’s athletic careers. In this 50th anniversary year of the passage of Title IX, it is notable Sally did much to promote women’s sports in their infancy at Lee’s Summit High School despite having only sons. Many of those years she was an officer in the club taking on additional responsibilities.

After what many would call a career raising nine children through high school and college graduations, Sally embarked on her second career when she went to work for John Knox Village. After more than two decades at JKV, where she helped place hundreds of people in their retirement homes, she herself retired. John Knox Village welcomed her into an independent living apartment in 2013.

A real highlight evening for Sally was her participation in Reflections in Red through her patient relationship with Dr. Tracy Stevens. She met First Lady, Laura Bush and her proactive approach to heart health was profiled at the St. Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center event.

Sally was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lee’s Summit for five decades. She taught Sunday School for many of those early years and regretted that her illness prevented her from attending church regularly in the last years of her life.

The family would like to thank Sally’s doctors, Dr. Regina Aholt, Dr. Tracy Stevens, Dr. Susan Herzberg, Kevin and Matthew Cummings, DDS and Dr. Doug Dehning who provided years of wonderful care, especially in the last few years. Sally and the family especially appreciated the angels that came into her life at John Knox Memory Care and the Care Center in the form of her nurses and nursing aides. They all played very significant roles enhancing and extending her life.

Services are planned for Friday, November 4, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church in Lee’s Summit. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed immediately by a Celebration of Life in the church. Interment will be at the Lee’s Summit Cemetery where Sally will be laid to rest beside her husband John. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John Knox Village Care Center in the name of Sally Graham.

Arrangements by Langsford Funeral Home, 15 SW 3rd St., Lee’s Summit, MO 64063

 

Condolences

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Sending my condolences to the Graham family.

Thankyou for trusting us with the care of Sally here at the care center. I am going to miss her dearly, she was such a beautiful spirit. What a blessing it has been. Thank you to her sons that were always so kind and respectful. Asking God to give you all strength during this time. Thank you God for the time Sally had on this earth with her loved ones and the blessing she was to others. Rest well Sally.

Mike, my condolences to you and your family.

It’s a beautiful obituary and it sounds like your mom enjoyed life in everything she did.

Luz de la Paz Gomez

Sally left a wonderful legacy at John Knox Village. She was the first person many prospective residents met as they considered moving to the Village. Sally helped them feel at ease and walked with them as they made this big move. I believe Sally was one of the top 2 sales counselors in our 50+ year history. After retirement, Sally and John moved into the Village and were wonderful additions to our community. Having known Sally for decades, I can say she was a woman of strength, character, and perseverance. She was always so proud of her family. I miss her warm smile and strong spirit. Raising 9 boys so successfully takes a special lady and Sally was perfect for the role. Blessings!

We are saddened to hear of Sally’s passing. She was truly one of the most delightful persons to be around. John and Sally were great assets to the Lee’s Summit community. Our sincere sympathy to her family.

I would like express my deepest sympathy to the whole Sally Graham family, and extended family, and countless friends she made in her long wonderful
Life. I Wrestled on the same Wrestling team as her
son, Don. She was an incredible mother to her 9
Sons, and was always involved in the various sports booster clubs for all of her 9 sons. She was a staple
I’m the Lee’s Summit community, and the Graham
family name is like royalty in the Lee’s Summit area,
There was always a Graham son involved in the many sports that Lee’s Summit High School was involved in for many years. I can’t imagine how she was able to feed all of those wonderful sons of hers for all of those years. She was always very sweet and nice to me over the many years I’ve known her, she will be greatly missed, With the deepest sympathy for the entire Graham family she will be greatly missed by all who knew her, Sincerely,
Dan Martell

Visitation

Friday, November 4, 2022
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
First Presbyterian Church Lee's Summit
1625 NW O'Brien Rd
Lee's Summit, MO 64081

Services

Friday, November 4, 2022
10:30 AM Celebration of Life
First Presbyterian Church Lee's Summit
1625 NW O'Brian Rd.
Lee's Summit, MO 64081