Hey, Do you remember our PawPaw?
He may have coached you in soccer, baseball, softball, football or basketball. Or, maybe you were on his Ladies Traveling Softball Team or in his former Boy Scout Troop or Boys Sunday School Class at Calder Baptist Church.
Perhaps you attended school with him in San Antonio, Ft. Worth, Lamar University, or U. of Texas Dental Branch, Houston. Harley finished first in his dental class and was a member of OKU Honorary Fraternity. He taught Dental Anatomy and Dental Hygiene classes at Lamar, and held office in SDDS. He was a member of many professional organizations and a charter member of the Academy of Sports Dentistry. For 12 years he gave his services to the Public Health Clinic. It was his honor to provide dental services to the Lamar Athletic Dept. for 40 years in appreciation for the football scholarship that brought him to Lamar in 1949.
He loved his profession and practiced until cancer forced his retirement. His patients, peers and friends knew him to be an honest man of vision with high ideals and principles. A man of strong moral convictions with compassion for others and truly a man of his word. He was also infamous for his jokes and funny stories.
Harley loved the Lord and joined Him in Heaven on Sunday, June 12, 2005. He was a member of Westgate Memorial Baptist Church and Doug Logan’s SS class. A lifetime NRA supporter and an avid Outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and piloting his airplanes. Harley and Scooter made lifetime friends in their 20 years of square dancing.
During his lengthy battle with cancer, Harley was blessed to have Dr’s. Scott McKenney and John Henderson as his main medical team. We could NEVER adequately convey enough appreciation to them nor to the compassionate nurses, assistants and Staff in the SNF Unit at Christus St. Elizabeth.
Harley was the beloved husband of Charlotte (Scooter) Graff for 39 years. Father of son, Rev. Billy Graff and wife Dawn of Nederland; daughters, Kristal Wilke and husband Rob of Lumberton; Tammie and husband Rev. Keith Crowgey of Smyrna, Ga; and Kim Perkins Ross and husband Wayne of Bedias, TX.
He was “Big Daddy” or “PawPaw” to 13 loving grandchildren: Joshua, Jacob and Jonathan Graff; Tyler and Hunter Perkins; Kelsey, Kaleigh, Jenna and Brenna Crowgey; Brock and Kendyl Wilke and Curtis and Phillip Ross.
He is survived by his twin brother, Dr. Howard Graff and wife Carvelynne of Hamshire; sister, Beverly Daugherty and husband Ralph of Austin; brothers-in-law, Jack Baker and wife Pat of Kirbyville, Jim Baker of Lumberton, and Richard Miller of Bridge City; and many nieces and nephews.
Harley was preceded in death by his parents, Waldo and Vera Graff, and step-mom, Sadie Ray.
Family and Friends will gather from 6-8 Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road at Highway 96 Bypass, Silsbee. Harley wanted to be in this new facility designed by his daughter, Kristal, and the LaBiche Architectural Group. Funeral services will be 4:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 15, 2005 at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church in Beaumont, with burial to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Pt. Neches.
Harley’s gentle love for Angel, his “people puppy”, is evidenced in his desire for no flowers. Instead, his wish was for gifts of life to be given to Puddin’s Place Adoption Depot, 445 N. 14th Street, Beaumont, TX. 77702-1806 or American Cancer Society, 755 S. 11th Street, Suite 212, Beaumont, TX. 77701
