Kenneth Eugene Graves

Kenneth "Ken" Eugene Graves, 83, of Odessa, Missouri passed away on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at the Western Regional Medical Center in Warrensburg, MO. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 1, 2012 at the Mt. Tabor Church in Odessa, MO with Reverend John Churchill and Reverend Sandy Feeler officiating. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, November 30, 2012 at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. Second St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524. Burial will be in the Mt. Tabor Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Mt. Tabor Church. Condolences for the family may be left at www.ralphojones.com. Ken was born on May 3, 1929 in Sibley, Iowa to Bert P. and Effie (Post) Graves. He was a 1947 graduate of Sibley High School in Sibley, IA and was an all-star letterman. On July 21, 1948 he entered the United States Navy serving as a Radioman until he was honorably discharged on July 18, 1952. Ken attended the Central Technical Institute in Kansas City, MO where he earned his degree in Radio-Television Broadcasting. On February 22, 1953 he married Betty Jean Boles in Sibley, IA, who survives of the home. Ken retired on April 1, 1988 after 33 years of service, working for WDAF Channel 4 in Kansas City, MO as a Broadcast Engineer Camera Operator. Ken was a charter member of the Christ United Methodist Church in Independence, MO. Ken and Betty have been members of the Mt. Tabor Church since 1988 when they moved to Odessa. Ken was very active in the church serving on many boards and also a member of the church Choir. Ken was a member of the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of America, Tribe Mic-O-Say and an Assistant Scout Master of Troop 347 in Independence, MO. He served on the Workforce Development Board Of Western Missouri for 20 years. He was a dedicated member of the American Legion Post 223 in Higginsville, MO and served as the Commander 3 times. Ken loved farming, hunting, fishing, his 1949 Ford and his 1960 Thunderbird, but most of all spending time with his family and friends. In addition to his wife he is survived by three children, Kim Eugene Graves and wife Marty of Sedalia, MO, Cynthia Jean Morehead and husband N. Kirk of Grain Valley, MO and Thomas Michael Graves and wife Cheryl of Independence, MO; three grandchildren, Zachary Michael Morehead and wife Michelle, Nickolas Kirk Morehead and Mallory Elizabeth Graves; a great granddaughter, Avery Jayne Morehead. In addition to his parents Ken was preceded in death by two brothers Donald Graves and Robert Graves.