Juan Graham

Juan Dean Graham was planning on making it to 100, but, realized at 91 that she had finished her mission. Born December 31, 1927, she was always happy to be the New Year's Eve Girl and ready to celebrate another year well lived. The mission stopped March 29, 2019, but the celebration will continue through her family for a very long time to come.

The oldest of six, Juan Dean was always a caretaker. At ten she lost her father, Joe D. Lewers, in a tragic accident. Her mother, Lula Horton Lewers, depended on her to help with her siblings and care for the farm. The tough economic times of the depression caused the family to lose their farm and forced Juan's Mother to place the children in an orphanage. From the age of 12 to 15 she remained at the orphanage and kept her brothers and sisters together as a family unit. At 15, ever independent, she left the orphanage and went home to work and help Mother bring the rest of the children home.

Her role as caretaker firmly entrenched in her DNA, she would marry twice, give birth to three girls, and help raise three sons and one more daughter. While raising her families she helped her soul mate, Jimmy Graham, start and build their janitorial business into the largest independently owned janitorial service in Texas. They passed their strong work ethic and policy of fair and honest service on to their children.

Juan's caretaker role would continue as she took her aging Mother, Mother-in-law, and sister-in-law into her home and cared for them in their final days. She was always there as a baby sitter, mentor and understanding ear for her grandchildren. And when her husband of 47 years was diagnosed with ALS she was there to care for him until he passed.

Juan was more than a caretaker, though. She loved to go dancing on a Saturday night, drink Margarita's with her friends and lived for spring and the chance to grow every flower she could find at the nursery or in a gardening catalogue. When winter came she gathered up all her potted plants and squeezed them into the green house where they bloomed profusely until spring. There wasn't a botanical garden anywhere that could compete.

Juan was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy Graham, three brothers and one sister.

She is survived by her sister, Marjorie Lewers of Florida and her children: Kathy Choate and husband C.B. of Odessa, Texas; Linda Anderson of Wake Forest, North Carolina; Juan Neves and husband Johnny W. of Austin, Texas; Frank Graham and wife Debra of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Paul Graham and wife Robin of Spring, Texas; Don Graham and wife Julie of Odessa, Texas; DeeDee Thompson and husband Dink of Odessa, Texas and a total of 35 grand-, great- and great-great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, April 5, 2019 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 6801 E. Business 20 in Odessa, Texas. Reverend Dr. Jimmy Braswell will be officiating.

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