Jean Marie Graves, age 95, of Shingleton, died early Tuesday morning, July 4, 2017 at Munising Memorial Hospital. She was born on May 20, 1922 in Melstrand to Eugene and Harriet (Lucier) Courter. Jean grew up in the Van Meer and Melstrand area and while in high school worked at the soda fountain at Putvin's. She graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1941. Jean married Roy R. Graves on October 1, 1941 and together raised their four children. She took care of the books for the Graves Brothers and Roy Graves Saw Mills. Jean also worked the elections in Schoolcraft County as a ballot counter. In 1945, Jean became a member of the Van Meer Baptist Church. When the Van Meer and Munising churches merged in 1963, Jean joined the Munising Baptist Church and served as church secretary, treasurer and Sunday school teacher throughout the years. Jean was a wonderful cook and selfless caregiver throughout the years. She also loved shoveling snow. If there was one inch in the driveway, she needed to remove it. She and Roy’s yard and garden were full of beautiful flowers and Jean was always on the run. Jean and Roy were married nearly seventy years when he preceded her in death on February 13, 2011.

She is survived by her four children – Gary (Cindy) Graves of Davisburg, MI, Gloria “Toni” (Bob) Kolbus of Munising, Jeanne Graves of Marquette, and Sheila Graves of Munising; grandchildren- Kurt (Michelle), Kelly (Al), Scott, Suzanne, Tammy (Scott), Robbie (Kristine), and Brad (Kathy); seven great-grandchildren; three great-great grandsons; brothers – Peter (Kathy) Syers of Shingleton and Robert (Irene) Courter of Stockton, CA; sister – Connie (Cecil) Watson of Barbeau, MI; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jean was preceded in death by her parents Gene and Stella Courter and Hattie and Pete Syers, husband Roy, and brothers Lawrence and Alvin Courter.

Services will be held at the Munising Baptist Church in Wetmore on Saturday, July 8, 2017. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Pastor Jason LaFlamme will conduct Jean’s funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising. Memorial donations are requested to be made to the Munising Baptist Church.