- Date Of Birth: January 26, 1921
- Date Of Death: June 8, 2009
- State: Arkansas
Louis Edward Graves
January 26, 1921 – June 8, 2009
Louis Edward Graves passed away Monday, June 8, 2009 in Sheridan, Arkansas.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Marcella A. Bowles Graves, a brother, Glenn Graves and a sister Coy McCool. He leaves behind a son, Gary W. Graves and wife Linda of Sheridan, 2 daughters, Karen (Sissy) Graves and Bill Brown of Conway and Julie and husband Darrin Hardy of Malvern. Grandchildren, Brian Graves, Linde Miller, Karrie Thrower and Kacy LaFleur, Hollie Roseberry and Claire Hardy as well as 5 great granddaughters and 2 great grandsons.
Mr. Graves was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to William Burt and Bertha Atchley Graves on January 26, 1921.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Sheridan. He had served in the Army from September 1942 until February 16, 1946 and while stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas he met and married Marcella.
He had attended Sheridan School and was in the band when John Henry Williams began to see his potential and made sure he had the opportunity to attend Henderson State Teachers College where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Music. He taught band in Sheridan and Bauxite. He left Arkansas in 1952 to teach in the Texas School System. He taught in Lampasses and Santa Anna before moving to San Angelo to join Brown Music Store as their instrument technician. While in San Angelo he completed his Master in Music and was working on his PHD in Music.
In 1961 he accepted a position as Band Director of the England High School in England Arkansas for 1 year and then had the opportunity to come back home to Sheridan where he was band director until his forced retirement because of his health in 1966.