RICHARD DEAN "DICK" GRAVES

Richard Dean "Dick" Graves, 65, of Gardner, passed away Oct. 18, 2009, at Olathe Medical Center after a seven- year battle with COPD (lung disease). Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, at Bruce Funeral Home, Gardner, Kan. (913) 856- 7111. Burial will follow at Gardner Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, also at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Olathe Hospice or the American Lung Assoc. Condolences may be sent to www.brucefuneralhome.com.

Dick was born Nov. 13, 1943, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Thomas Junior and Olive Jane Rinehart Graves. He moved to Gardner with his family in 1959. He graduated from Gardner High School in 1961, attended Iola Jr College and JCCC. Dick served in the US Army and National Guard from June 1962 to June 1968. In high school he became a member of Gardner Presbyterian Church. He worked there and also was an assistant at Bruce Furniture Store and Funeral Home. Dick worked at the Skelly Station in Gardner, was a deputy sheriff /detective for the Johnson County Sheriff's Dept. for 14 years and later worked as a clerk at King's Convenience Store in Olathe.

Dick was previously married to Barbara Klamm Hopson. Dick married Joanna Samyn on April 10, 1982, in Lenexa, Kan. He loved spending time with his family. He enjoyed reading and watching western, mystery, and detective movies and working on his cars.

Dick was preceded in death by his mother Olive in March of 2009 and a brother, Harold "Harry" Graves. He is survived by his wife, Joanna, of the home; children: Connie Hurla (Shawn), Louisburg, David Graves (Cindy), Spring Hill, Deanna Sampugnaro (Michael), Omaha, Neb., Leeann Graves, Gardner; his father, Thomas, Gardner; siblings: Thomas James Graves, Wichita, Kan., and Linda Weeks, Drexel, Mo.; six grandchildren and one great grand- daughter.