Josephine "Jo" Catherine Morgan Graves

Josephine “Jo” Catherine Morgan Graves, age 96, of Ogden, returned to her Heavenly Father on December 20, 2012 due to complications of old age. She was lovingly surrounded by her daughter, her son-in-law, and her extended family. Jo was born March 24, 1916 in Valley, Nebraska to Henry and Elizabeth Zeis Morgan. After growing up and working for several years at the phone company in Omaha, Jo joined the Womens' Auxiliary Army Corps on September 1, 1943. After leaving the service, she met and married Frank E. Graves on January 27, 1947 in Elkhorn, Nebraska and eventually settled in Tucson, Arizona. Frank passed away on January 8, 1986, after 39 years of marriage. Jo was a faithful member of the Catholic Church and served in several volunteer positions. She loved cooking, sewing, and taking care of her children. Jo took great delight in serving delicious Sunday and holiday dinners that folks still remember with great fondness. She always kept those around her on their toes with her lively sense of humor, but also with a no-nonsense attitude at times. She was affectionately known as "Sarge" to some of her family members. She also had a great love and affection for animals, which she passed down to many of her kin. Jo was a "jack-of-all-trades", in that she could literally make something of nothing, fix things, and was very talented in all facets of the home. She was undoubtedly one of the strongest, most resilient people ever and still managed to always look totally put together and beautiful. She truly lived the saying "Where's there's a will there's a way”. One of her greatest joys was driving her little white Buick around, but especially to see Mary's baby Haley in Phoenix. She is survived by her sister Eileen, daughters Mary (Jeff) Piersanti and Susie (Dick) Krepel; son Jack (Patsy) Graves, Patti Soderman Graves, grandchildren Haley Hargett (fiance Mike Bunkers), Mark Hargett, Tricia (Kelly) Franznick, Michael (Barbara) Graves, Suzi Jo Ronalds, Gina Graves, Missy Graves, Merry (Rick) Davis, David (Cindy) Klataske, Joanie (Dave) Bock, Perry (Gloria) Graves, Steven Graves, Andy Graves, David (Donna) Graves, Chris (Jill) Welch and 14 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Frank; her brothers, Francis, Leonard, Bob and Tony; sister, Madeline; son, Mike; daughter, Drusilla and Dru's daughter Corrine Welch. Family will meet with friends on Thursday, December 27, 2012, from 6 to 8 pm, at Lindquist's Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. A funeral mass will be held at The Sacred Heart Church in Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday, January 9, 2013. Interment will follow at Holy Hope Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona. Our heartfelt thanks to all of the wonderful caregivers and beloved friends Mom made over the years from Chancellor Gardens Assisted Living, and the George Wahlen Ogden Veteran's Home for your kind and loving assistance and friendship through the years. Thanks to Holly at Applegate Hospice and Debbie and Carla at Bristol Hospice for your tender loving care of our dear mother. As a special note, the last year of our mom's life was spent at the George Wahlen Veteran's Home in Ogden where she was able to relive the pride and glory of her service to her country and was richly rewarded by the excellent care and respect that she recieved there.