TAMA-Beverly J. Graff, 81, of Tama, passed away Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 11:00 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama with Pastor Thomas Dowling officiating. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in rural Tama. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 28 from 5 to 8 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama.
Beverly was born on April 23, 1930 in Montour, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Gladys (Burke) Murty.
She graduated from Montour High School.
She married Leo Backen in July of 1952 at St. John Lutheran Church. On October 31, 1956, she married Paul Graff at St. John Lutheran Church. Beverly worked for Dr. Wright and later for Dr. Walker in their optometry practices. She also sold Avon for many years. Beverly volunteered at the Toledo Sr. Center and Iowa River Hospice. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran church in Tama where she was active in the church circle and the bell choir. She was also a member of the Tama Legion Auxiliary and Daughters of the American Revolution. Beverly enjoyed embroidery and spending time with her grandkids and great-grandkids. She especially enjoyed family get togethers.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husbands, Leo in 1954 and Paul in 1962; one grandson, Tommy Graff; two sisters, Sharon Sterns and Barbara Hartsoe; and two brothers, Dennis and Dick Murty.
Survivors include five children, Gail (Frank) Blaha of Gold River, CA, Rod (Penny) Graff of Toledo, Sheryl (Jack) Aguilar of Marshalltown, Stan (Ellen) Graff of Tama, and Carol (Mike) Crawford of Marshalltown; nine grandchildren, Elise, Robbie, Curt, Stef, Mike, Janette, Karen, Kelle, and Bryan; twelve great-grandchildren; her siblings, Lyle (Gene) Murty of Waterloo, Joe (Pat) Murty of Clinton, Lawrence (Pat) Murty of Tama, and Shirley Deal of Green Mountain; her sisters-in-law, Barbara Murty of Chelsea, Mildred Backen of Tama, Hazel Moyer of Toledo, Helen Weiner of Montour, Dena Graff of Marshalltown, and Sharon Graff of Tama; her brothers-in-law, Chuck (Judy) Sterns of Des Moines, and Bob (Dorothy) Backen of Tama; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial fund has been established.