John Graves, Jr.

John Studer Graves, Jr. of Concan passed away on June 29, 2018 at the age of 73. He was born on June 18, 1945 in San Antonio to Billie Neal and John Studer "Jack" Graves. He married Carol Holmes on January 1, 1967 in Austin, Texas.

John is survived by his wife of 51 years; two sons, John Studer "Trey" Graves, III and wife, Annette of Austin and Robert "Neal" Graves and wife, Katherine of Boerne; three sisters, Janeal Prickett and husband, Chris of Odessa, Gayle Korbell of Concan, and Jo Danna Farr of Concan; brother, Brian David Graves and wife, Terri of Santa Fe, New Mexico; father-in-law Robert Holmes of Tyler; brother-in-law Wes Holmes and wife, Debbie of Athens; four grandchildren, Caroline Graves, Ryan Graves, Jackson Graves, and Garner Graves; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law Doris Holmes and brother-in-law, Wayne Korbell.

Johnny was our ultimate outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and fish and was a mentor to many young hunters and kids learning to fish. He loved animals and would take yearly trips with Carol and family members including his brothers and sisters to look at the beautiful scenery and animals in the Northwest and Canada . As Johnny grew older, he changed from hunting animals to photographing them. He took great joy in viewing the beauty of God's creations. He had a great eye for spotting deer, elk or any other animals in the wild. He started a new hobby when he began raising whitetail deer 20 years ago.
Jody remembers hunting with Johnny in the old days. He would send her down into the draw and around the hill to "scare up the deer" so he could shoot them! When he was very young, his grandfather Tom Neal taught him to be a trapper. During elementary school he would run his traps down on Cooks Slough and in high school would drive all the way to Concan and back to run his traps early in the morning before school started. We remember one day when he came back and we didn't have to ask what he caught….we could smell him a mile away………..worst smelling skunk ever.
As a young man Johnny was involved in the Boy Scouts of America. Gayle remembers him in the Boy Scouts reenactment of the Battle of the Alamo, dressed as Davy Crockett with a coonskin hat, coming over the top of the Alamo. He was our hero. He was the quarterback on the Uvalde Coyote football team in high school. He was also a "walk-on" for the University of Texas at Austin swimming team and was a wonderful diver. Folks still remember him diving out of the trees down at the Concan swimming hole, and nobody could do more awesome tricks off that Neal's swimming hole swing.
John graduated with his Bachelor's of Arts in Architecture from UT, married Carol and began working at his office in San Antonio while living in Pipe Creek. He and Carol had two children, Trey and Neal, whom he loved dearly and was so proud of each. John eventually came back to Uvalde to practice architecture with his dad, Jack Graves, at John S. Graves and Associates. He was a member of AIA, and he has projects all over southwest Texas as testimony to his talents. In addition to designing schools, municipal buildings and homes, John donated time to various organizations and individuals to assist them with their architectural needs.
Johnny was a founding member of the Concan Baptist Mission where he attended church regularly…… unless it was hunting season! Then you could find him in God's Church of the Outdoors!
John enjoyed his family and loved his grandchildren. The grandchildren gave him great joy as he watched them play sports, act in plays or taught them how to hunt. He was a Christian who loved the Lord. He was loved and will be missed by many, yet we know we will all be together again someday in Heaven.
Pallbearers are Lane Prickett, Browder Graves, Keith King, Jason Clark, Thomas Farr, Chase Roosa and Shane Burgin. Honorary Pallbearers are Brian Graves, Chris Prickett, Wes Holmes, Rodger Roosa, John Thomas Buchanan, B.J. Stone, Jim Raney and Ralph Robinson.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Concan Baptist Mission with burial to follow in Concan Cemetery. Dress is summer casual. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Concan Baptist Mission, ATTN: Ron Lowery, PO Box 123, Concan, TX 78838 in the name of John S. Graves, Jr.

Visitation

Concan Baptist Mission
Hwy. 83 North
Concan, TX  78838
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
9:00 a.m.

Service

Funeral Service

Concan Baptist Mission
Hwy. 83 North
Concan, TX  78838
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Concan Cemetery
North Hwy 127
Concan, TX  78838

Memorial Contributions

Concan Baptist Mission
ATTN: Ron Lowery, PO Box 123
Concan, TX  78838