Roll Call Tribute

John E. Graves 

June 21, 1928 - January 14, 2026 

On January 14, 2026, John E. Graves, 97 ½ , formerly of Vega, Texas, earned his heavenly wings, and after 23 years of separation, reunited with our mother once again. John was born June 21, 1928 in Garrison, Texas, he was the youngest of five children. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1952 with a Bachelor degree in Forest Management, was a Corps Cadet member, earning his military rank as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Upon his honorable discharge from the service to return to the farm in Garrison to care for his widowed mother, he met our mother, Zella. They married February 27, 1953 in Nacogdoches, Texas. Dad’s employment with the USDA Soil Conversation Service transferred him to various West Texas cities before moving to Vega, Texas in August 1967. He was a member of the Vega Masonic Lodge and a Master Mason for over 75 years.

John & Zella retired in 1996, moved briefly to Amarillo in 1997 before moving to Conroe, Texas in 1998. After Zella’s untimely death from cancer in September 2002, John continued to live in Conroe. When his youngest daughter Sharon moved to Frankston, Texas in the spring of 2017, John followed shortly after that. John loved working outside in the yard, even helping Mike and Sharon at the farm. His favorite pastime was spending time with his family, playing games and enjoying cigars with his grandsons. He especially loved it when several of his great grandkids would gather to play dominoes or Skip-Bo. At the time of his death, John was residing at Garden Estates Retirement Center in Tyler, Texas.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters and brother, and his wife of 49 ½ years, Zella M. Graves. Left to carry on his legacy are his children, Debbie Wilson and husband Brad of Amarillo, Texas; Rick Graves and wife Chella of Waco, Texas; and Sharon Spinhirne and husband Mike of Frankston, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews. To carry on the loving memories of smoking stinky Swisher Sweet Perfecto cigars, eating watermelons, Snickers candy bars and drinking Dr. Peppers, playing cards and dominos with PaPa John are his grandchildren and great grandchildren: Shaye Pingel Segovia of Vega and her daughter Abreigh; John Wayne Pingel of Humble, his wife Tara and children, Wyatt, Tate and Walker; Dustin Spinhirne of Frankston, his wife Jin and children, Logan and Evan; Joshua Spinhirne of Flint, Texas, his wife Christina and children Jared and Jacob; Seth Spinhirne of Frankston, his wife Emily, and children Cole and Anna; Jason Graves of Arlington, Texas, his wife Megan and children Elijah, Ezra and Emerson; Jeffrey Graves of LaVernia, Texas, his wife Jenny and children, Lyla, Layton and Linc; and Johnathon Graves of Lubbock, Texas.

A private celebration of life will be held Memorial Weekend at the Spinhirne Farm, Frankston, Texas, where his ashes and his leftover cigars will be spread as we plant a tree in his honor while we share many happy memories, eat watermelon, and drink a few Dr. Peppers.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Hospice of East Texas, Tyler, for the gentle care and comfort they provided our dad in his last days. The setting allowed us to gather and give him one last cup of ice cream, play a final round of cards, hug and tell him how much we loved him and finally, “until we meet again dad.”