Daniel Lawrence Graves

He was a graduate of Nathan Hale High School in Milwaukee, WI.

He worked as a Mechanic in his own auto repair shop for decades in Milwaukee. In 1969, he and his family moved to Donna, Texas for a few years, seeking a warmer climate. Then they moved to City By The Sea, Texas where he initially managed the Service Department for a car dealership, then went on to managed the equipment yard for Chicago Bridge and Iron in Ingleside, Texas, Largs, Scotland and Pascagola, Mississippi. After leaving CBI, he opened Photo and Video World in Rockport, Texas. Upon retirement, he and his beloved wife, Patricia Wilhelm Graves, moved to Kerrville, Texas to be closer to family in a small town.

He and his wife were actively involved in the Catholic churches where ever they lived. While living in Kerrville, he was an active volunteer with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, where he repaired donated item for resale.

His passion, by far, was the love of sailing. Daniel built his first sailboat as leader of the Sea Scouts in Donna, Texas. He built and refurbished several more sailboats, which he and Pat would not only take long cruises on, but also raced while members of the Rockport Yacht Club, winning the Off Shore Regatta 1999, Class 1 Cruising Class. On one of their cruises, they learned while picking up supplies in Galveston, that a hurricane was on its way. They sailed up the San Bernard River as far as they could and road out the storm with as many anchors and tie lines they could manage. Intrepidly,they then continued their cruise.

When Daniel was not sailing, he used his creativity and skills to build elaborated jewelry boxes, magazine racks, turned bowls, casserole carriers and many other items for all of his children. He built rocking horses and swings for his grandchildren. As our mother always said, there was nothing he couldn't do.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Florence Graves, his sister, Faith Schlieter, his brother Frederick Graves, his sister-in-law, also named Patricia Graves and brother-in-law Ernst Schlieter.

He is survived by his brother, Donald Graves, his daughter, Kathleen and her husband J. Vernon Cook, his daughter, Suzanne Burck, his son, Kevin and his wife Susan Graves, his son, Lawrence Graves, his daughter, Julie and her husband Danny Duzich, ten grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Peterson Hospice, 220 Harper Care Home and Texas Caregiver Home Health, LLC for the care and compassion they showed our father in his final days. Our family is indebted to all of these people for the kindness and concern they showed not only to our father but to the family as well

Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Kerrville, TX on Saturday, May 3rd at 9:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Daniel's honor to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.