Obituaries
From our weekly issue dated November 5, 2008
‘Ardy’ Graham
Ardith “Ardy” Graham, 65, of Cave Junction, died Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008 at her home.
She was born on April 27, 1943 in Ross, Calif. to Charles & Eunice Melvin. She graduated from Arcata High School in 1961 and married her sweetheart, Glenn Graham, a week later on June 24. In October 1962 their first daughter, Pamela, was born; and in August 1965 their second daughter, Glenda, came along.
Mrs. Graham spent her working years in California as a head cook at various places including The Little Red Barn, Arcata High School, Jonah’s, and as “The Salad Lady” at Humboldt State University’s Jolly Giant. She changed careers in 1999, working for United Indian Health Services with mothers and babies before retiring to Oregon in 2000 with her husband.
Mrs. Graham soon tired of just being home and started back to work as the cook for Head Start and later for Early Head Start in Cave Junction before retiring for good in 2003.
She spent her home-time “4x4ing” on the Samoa sand dunes near Eureka; helping run her and her husband’s 4x4 pull truck, The Barbarian; camping, and hunting deer with her husband and girls. She enjoyed baking cookies and photographing her two grandchildren.
Mrs. Graham was of Native American descent and was an Elder in the Yurok Tribe on the Klamath River in Klamath, Calif.
She is survived by her husband, Glenn Graham; two daughters, Pamela Kennedy and Glenda Graham; an elder sister, Charlene “Soos” Allen, a younger brother, John Melvin; a granddaughter and a grandson; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her elder brother, Robert Melvin.
Memorial donations can be made to the ALS Association of Oregon and S.W. Washington Chapter at 310 S.W. Fourth Ave., Suite 630, Portland OR 97204 or online at www.also-or.org.
A service was held with Illinois Valley Funeral Directors in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to www.since1928hull.com.
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