Nancy N. Graffis

She was the wife of the late Don W. Graffis, with whom she shared over 48 years of loving marriage until his death in 2004.

Born in New York City, Nancy was the second of two daughters born to the late Fred and Sidney (Ogden) Newman.

She grew up in the New York and New Jersey area and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Vermont. Nancy continued her post-graduate education at Purdue University, where she met her future husband.

She lived most of her adult life in Urbana, Illinois, with her husband and family, before retiring to Michigan to be closer to her grandchildren.

Nancy’s family and her church were the two most important aspects of her life. She was an active member of the local church wherever she lived, leading or participating in many ladies’ Bible studies and prayer groups. Nancy was a long-time member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Urbana, Illinois and was a leader of the local Bible Study Fellowship.

After moving to Michigan, she and Don helped to establish and construct the Lyons-Muir Church in Muir. The past two years of her life were contentedly spent in her daughter Judy’s home in Lake Linden, where she worshipped at the Rugged Cross Church of Hancock.

Surviving daughters are, Gwen Botting and her husband Jim of Ionia, Judy Chizek and her husband Jim of Lake Linden; son, Dale Graffis and his wife Michele of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; grandchildren, Greg and Krista Botting, Andrew Graffis, Samuel, Jacob and Ivamaria Chizek; several nieces and nephews; and extended family, Tom, Julie, David and Joe Tofilon, and Jeff and Becky Ulmer.

Nancy was predeceased by her husband, Don; children, Dean and Joy Graffis; grandchildren, Derek Graffis and Rebecca Botting; and her sister, Elisabeth Ward.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, September 26, 2016, at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until time of services.

A second Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at the Lyons-Muir Church, 1074 Olmstead Rd, Muir. Interment will be private in Royal Center, Indiana.

Online condolences may be left for the family at ericksoncrowleypeterson.com

Contributions, in lieu of flowers and donations may be made to Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind, 4175 Westbrook Rd., Ionia, 48846, oubmichigan.org, Angel 34 Foundation, P.O. Box 494, Nazareth, Pennsylvania, 18064 angel34.org/programs_camp_flip_flop.php), or Rugged Cross Church-orphanage in India, 50733 Schaaf Estates Rd, Hancock 49930.

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with arrangements.