Constance A. Graves Obituary (1934 - 2016)

CARMEL- Constance A. "Connie" (Newcomb) Graves, 81, passed away at home March 25, 2016. She was born in Carmel October 25, 1934, the daughter of Clyde M. and Nettie I. (Hand) Newcomb. Connie grew up in the town of Carmel and loved it very much. During her high school years, she worked at the Auto Rest Park frying clams. After graduation from high school, she attended x-ray school at Saranac Lake, NY. Following graduation, she moved to Boston and worked at Boston City Hospital for several years. On June 15, 1957 she married Marvin Graves; and worked for Dr. Erwin, a neurologist, for two years. Marvin, who was serving in the Air Force, was transferred to Hawaii where their two sons, Neil and Scott were born. They were then transferred to Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts, where their son Dan was born, and later to Dow Air Force Base in Maine, where their daughter Laura was born. In 1970, Connie got her real estate license in Washington and worked alongside her husband selling real estate. In 1977-1978, Connie was President of the Hampden Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, through which Connie and Marvin enjoyed many outings, dinners, and parties. Connie loved to read and worked and helped set up the Edythe L. Dyer Library in Hampden, where she worked several years while raising her family. From 1988 to 1996 she worked for R.S.V.P. in Bangor. She loved history and helped establish the Carmel Historical Society, where she served as President for many years and worked hard to get it incorporated as a non-profit. She wrote and published "A History of Carmel" and dedicated it to her mother. To say that Connie was active in the community is an understatement. She belonged to the Carmel Senior Citizens, and loved the Simpson Memorial Library where she routinely took out three or four books a week. Connie believed that everyone should give back to their town as much as they can. She loved seeing the new buildings in town, such as Carmel Historical Society, Simpson Memorial Library, C.A. Newcomb & Sons, Seafood Galley, Sunoco Station, and Fine & Dandelion. She said if she were rich, she would plant trees up and down the street so the town would look like it did when she grew up. Connie and Marvin spent a couple of summers in Alaska, and then at the age of 80, decided to drive across the United States, where they visited relatives in North Dakota. They had a family reunion in Sparks, NV, and were able to visit with special family members, Mark and Sheri, Allen and Debbie, and Luke and Trudy Lawrence. After the family reunion, they headed to Homer, Alaska, and then back to Carmel, after driving over 12,000 miles. Connie was a great wife, mother, and grandmother. Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Marvin Graves of Carmel; her children, Neil Graves and his wife Lucie of Bangor, Scott Graves of Carmel, Daniel Graves of Georgetown, MA, and Laura Neal and her husband Peter of Bangor; her grandchildren, Adam Woodard of NM, Leland Graves and Katharine Graves, both of Bangor; step grandchildren, Greg and his wife Kim of Windham, Kim and her husband Jason of Dover-Foxcroft, and Catherine Neal of Dexter; great grandchildren, Nathaniel, Isabelle, Benjamin, and Samuel Neal, and Olivia and Jacob Johnson; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Gloria Small of Carmel. She was predeceased by her parents; and her brothers, Richard and James. The family would like to thank Anne-Marie Brown and Desiree Mayo of Beacon Hospice, for their exceptional and loving care for Connie. A funeral service will be held at 1 PM, Monday, March 28, 2016, at the Carmel Union Congregational Church with Pastors Mark Rustin and Jack Williams officiating. Friends may call at the church from noon until the time of the funeral. A reception will follow at the Masonic Hall in Carmel. A private graveside committal service will be held in the spring at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Carmel Historical Society, P.O. Box 214, Carmel, ME 04419, the Simpson Memorial Library, P.O. Box 186, Carmel, ME 04419, or to the Carmel Union Congregational Church, P.O. Box 111, Carmel, ME 04419.