Doyle D. Graves

Doyle Duncan Graves went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 8, at Artesia General Hospital in Artesia, New Mexico.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, May 14, 2018, in the Iredell First Baptist Church with Rev. Robby Ballew and Rev. Hunter Ballew officiating.  Burial will be in the Mitchell Cemetery in Iredell with Military Honors.  A visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, May 13 at Lawson Funeral Home Chapel.  Pallbearers will be Cory Graves, Jared Graves, Jake Graves, Hunter Ballew, Cody Graves, Josh Graves, and Landry Graves.  Honorary pallbearers will be Haley Alaniz, Hannah Ballew, and Laney Graves.

Doyle was born June  25, 1935, in Iredell, Texas , the son of Finas and Jerrine Graves.  His early years were spent in Iredell until his family moved to Lubbock, Texas where he graduated from high school in 1953.  While in high school he was part of the 1952 state championship football team at Lubbock High School.  After  graduation, he attended Texas Tech University for a few semesters until he went to work for his dad.  He then enlisted into the U. S. Army and  became a radar specialist.  He served three years with part of those serving his country overseas.  During one of his leaves he asked Pat Dunlap to marry him and they became engaged before he went to Korea.  After returning from Korea they were married August  2, 1957 and then were stationed at White Sands in New Mexico.  After leaving the Army  he worked for General Dynamics for 11 months.  After working for General Dynamics he then to work for his dad on a large building project before he went to work for  B&H Instrument Company. .After working for  B&H he then was hired by the FAA  as a computer specialist at DFW Airport.  He retired from the FAA after 34 years of employment. The couple moved back to Iredell to live on their 120 acre farm.  They sold the farm in 2014 and moved to Artesia, New Mexico. He will always be remembered  as a loving husband, father, granddad, great-granddad, and friend.

Survivors include his wife, Pat Graves of the family home; sons, Keith Graves and wife  LaNitra, of New Braunfels, Texas, Jeff Graves and wife, Donna, of Bowie, Texas, Kirk Graves and his wife, Denise of Burleson, Texas; daughter, Jill Ballew and husband, Robby, of Artesia, New Mexico; ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Baptist Church Missions Fund, 401 South 20th Street, Artesia,New Mexico, 88210

Arrangements are by Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, Texas, 254-435-2792.

Thoughts and memories may be shared with the family at www.lawsonfuneralhome.net