Edith Zoe (Allen) Graham went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at her home in Pagosa Springs. She was born on March 1, 1929, in Kazan, Colo., to Melvin and Dawn Allen. She, along with brothers Johnny, Jimmy, Henry (Hank) and sisters Lois and Ava, spent their growing up years in the Arkansas Valley. She attended school in Cheraw, Colo., and graduated in 1947 as the valedictorian of her class. She received a full-ride scholarship to attend any state college in Colorado. She realized that her dream was to be a wife and mother of a big family, so she declined the scholarship. In October of 1947, she married Duane Graham.
In the early years of their marriage, they lived and worked on ranches in the Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming areas before settling back in the Swink area to raise their family. They had nine children, which was Edith’s first and most meaningful career. Her child-raising years lasted 35 years. Once her family was raised, she enjoyed using her numerous skills in the workplace. She worked as a supervisor at the sewing factory in La Junta. She also worked at the La Junta Nursing Home as the activities director and later spent time as an in-home caregiver to countless elderly people in her community. Edith spent a few years working in her daughter-in-law Judy Graham’s day care. This allowed her to influence many more children with her love and wisdom. After she retired, she spent several years volunteering to play the piano for the residents at nursing homes in the Arkansas Valley. This allowed her to combine two of her greatest attributes — her love of music and of people. Duane Graham, her husband of 53 years, died in January of 2000 and Edith continued to live in the Arkansas Valley until 2013, when she went to live with her daughters in the Fort Collins area. She stayed there until 2019 and then came to live with other daughters in Pagosa Springs. Edith was a talented writer and enjoyed membership in the Wolf Creek Writer’s Group during her time in Pagosa Springs. As a steadfast believer of God her entire life, she enjoyed membership in the Swink Methodist Church, the Cheraw Methodist Church, the La Porte Presbyterian Church and the Pagosa Springs Methodist Church. She remained in the Pagosa Springs area until the time of her death.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Dawn Allen; her husband, Duane Graham; her sons, J.D. and Dee Graham; her brother, Jimmy Allen; and her grandson, Jarod Varner.
She is survived by her daughters-in-law Judy Graham (Pagosa Springs) and Sharon Graham (Lamar); and her children: Jo Hately (Jim), of Pagosa Springs, Steve Graham (Linda), of Fort Collins, Mikie Lynn Graham, of La Porte, Tom Graham (Diane), of Manzanola, Sally Varner (Steve), of Monte Vista, Brian Graham (Robin), of McClave, and Dawn Ross (Cody), of Pagosa Springs; along with 28 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Johnny Allen, of Swink, Lois Buscher (George), of Fairbanks, Alaska, Hank Allen of Wilburton, Okla., and Ava Richey (Larry), of Bandon, Ore.
A celebration of Edith’s life will be held on Nov. 30, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the Swink High School. All who knew and loved her are invited to attend.
