Riley Leon Graham, age 93, a longtime resident of Florence, passed from this life Sept. 10, 2013. He lived his life devoted to his Lord, his wife Mary and his family.
Leon was a strong and loving father to his four sons and their families, Bobby and Karen, Don and Peggy, Steve and Kathy and Dan and Linda. He was affectionately known as “PaPaw” to 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was the last surviving child of the eleven born to Anna Myrtle Jones Graham and John Noble Graham. He is also survived by a special friend and helper, Jewel Hester.
Leon was born in Belgreen, Ala., met Mary at Berry College in Rome, Ga. and lived in the Three Forks Community and in Florence, where he owned Court Jewelers for approximately 40 years. Leon served as an elder of the College View Church of Christ for 30 years and later he was part of the Helton Drive congregation. He was strong in his faith and example. He often sacrificially tended to the needs of his family and friends, opening his home with Mary to young people, especially young preachers and college students.
He left college at the beginning of WWII and served in the U.S. Army where he was in the European Theatre of Operations and received the WWII Victory Medal with one Bronze Star. He was the founding administrator of the Community Action Program for Lauderdale and Colbert counties and former Director of North Alabama Council of Local Governments.
Visitation will be held Friday, Sept. 13, 2013 from 10-noon at Greenview Funeral Home with the funeral service beginning at noon in Greenview Memorial Chapel. His sons, Bobby, Don, Steve and Dan, along with grandsons, Richard Graham, and Steve Graham Jr., will carry his remains to their final resting place in Greenview Memorial Park.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Columbia Cottage, Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center and Floyd E. “Tut” Fann Home for Veterans for their excellent care of our loved one.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Rustic Youth Camp, 3170 Shady Grove Road, Russellville, AL 35653.
Arrangements by Greenview Funeral Home.
