Patricia Ann Graves, affectionately known to family and friends as Ann, passed away peacefully at her home at the age of 85 on July 11, 2026. She was born on August 18, 1940, in Paris, Texas, to Powell McCann and Clara (Hunter) McCann.
Ann shared 62 wonderful years of marriage with the love of her life, Thomas Graves. Together they built a home centered on love, faith, family, and lasting memories until his passing on June 22, 2024.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Thomas Graves; her parents, Powell McCann and Clara (Hunter) McCann; her sister, Loretta Norris; and her brothers, Larry McCann and Gary McCann.
She is lovingly survived by her two daughters, Lisa Mackey and her husband, Trent Mackey, of Sunnyvale, Texas, and Alison Bowshier of Mesquite, Texas; her sisters, Carolyn Baker and Kathy Young; her sister-in-law, Gayle McCann; six grandsons: Justin Williams and his wife, Kristie, of Blossom, Texas; Derek Williams and his wife, Brooke, of Powderly, Texas; Hunter Mackey and Ashley Robinson of Sunnyvale, Texas; Spencer Mackey and his wife, Ashley, of Princeton, Texas; Cooper Mackey and his wife, Nikki, of Terrell, Texas; and Tanner Ratzlaff and Haley Brasher of Blossom, Texas.
Ann was a proud great-grandmother to eight cherished great-grandchildren: Payton, Rylie, Sutton, and Laramie, children of Justin and Kristie Williams; Blakely and Briar, children of Derek and Brooke Williams; Harper, daughter of Hunter Mackey and Ashley Robinson; and Tate, son of Spencer and Ashley Mackey.
She also lovingly acknowledged her two great-grandsons, Hagen and Kase, beloved sons of Justin and Kristie Williams, who preceded her in death. She is also survived by countless nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.
A day after graduating from high school, at the age of 17, Ann left her hometown and moved to Dallas to begin the next chapter of her life. While waiting to turn 18, she cared for neighborhood children as a babysitter. After her 18th birthday, she began her career at Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas. After raising her daughters, she returned to the workforce part-time at Southland Life Insurance Company. She later joined A&B; Supply in Dallas, where she worked alongside lifelong friends until her retirement. Retirement gave Ann even more time to enjoy her family, her books, sewing projects, and making memories with those she loved most.
Ann found joy in life’s simple pleasures. She and Thomas spent many happy years square dancing together, making lifelong friends and treasured memories. She loved sewing, reading, and spending time with her family. Whether gathered around the table, sharing stories, or celebrating life’s milestones, Ann’s greatest happiness came from being surrounded by those she loved. Ann’s faith was the cornerstone of her life. Her mother, Clara, was a Christian and desired for her family to know the Lord. However, because they did not live close to a church and, for many years, did not own reliable transportation, their church attendance was sporadic. Even so, Ann attended Vacation Bible School (VBS) with her aunts and attended church often enough to learn about God and the love of Jesus.
In April 1956, a young pastor from Illinois came to serve as pastor of her local Baptist church. Soon after arriving, he visited Ann’s home, personally invited the family to attend church, and offered to pick them up and take them to the service. On that very first visit, Ann heard the invitation to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She walked forward and publicly made her profession of faith, beginning a lifelong relationship with Christ that would guide her through every season of life. Her faith remained steadfast throughout her life and was evident in the kindness, humility, and love she showed to others. She trusted the Lord through both life’s joys and its challenges, and her family finds comfort and peace in knowing she is now in the presence of her Savior, joyfully reunited with Thomas and the loved ones who have gone before her.
She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, quiet strength, kind heart, unwavering devotion to her family, and the example of faith she lived every day. Her life was a beautiful testimony of God’s grace, faithfulness, and love. Ann’s greatest legacy was her faith in Jesus Christ, the love she shared so freely, and the family she treasured so deeply. Though she will be greatly missed, her family rejoices in the promise that they will see her again. Until that joyful reunion, her memories, her example, and her unwavering faith will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
Funeral services have been set for Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery in Red River County, Texas. A visitation has been set from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be sent to the Graves family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com
