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Mildred Elizabeth “Midge” <I>Norman</I> Graves

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Mildred Elizabeth “Midge” Norman Graves

Birth
Wilder, Canyon County, Idaho, USA
Death
15 Aug 2011 (aged 99)
Burial
Caldwell, Canyon County, Idaho, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Mildred Elizabeth Norman Graves 1911 - 2011

Mildred ("Midge") Graves of Caldwell, passed away of natural causes on August 15, 2011 at home in Caldwell.

She was born October 26, 1911 in Wilder, Idaho, to Charles Edward Norman and Nellie Russell Norman. Midge was born at home on her parents' homestead on the Wilder Bench. She was the third of six children born to Charles and Nellie, two of whom died during their childhood. Midge attended school in Wilder, as well as in Jefferson and Roseburg, Oregon, graduating from Wilder High School in 1930.

After graduation, she attended business college in Nampa while living with her aunt, Elizabeth Stockwell, in Caldwell. Jobs were hard to come by during the Great Depression when she completed business school in 1931, especially for single women, but she was fortunate to receive an offer from Caldwell attorney, George Scatterday, to work in his law office, just "for the experience".

It was there that she met Fred Mitchell, an insurance agent, who offered her full time, paid employment in the fall of 1931. Midge married Vernon Eugene ("Gene") Graves on August 22, 1932. In 1936, Mr. Mitchell passed away unexpectedly and she convinced her husband to enter the insurance business. Midge continued to manage the Fred Mitchell Agency until Gene completed insurance school in Baltimore, Maryland, at which point they purchased the Fred Mitchell Agency and changed the name to Mitchell Graves Agency. In the early 1950's, J. B. "Bernie" Holden became a partner in the agency and its name was changed to Graves-Holden Insurance.

Although the agency was sold in 1976, Midge continued to work at the agency until she ultimately retired in 1983.

Midge was an avid baseball fan. She began playing baseball in the eighth grade when she was asked to fill in on a boys' baseball team in Roseburg, Oregon, which didn't have enough players to fill out the team. Upon returning to Wilder, she played on the Wilder High School girls' baseball team through graduation. She remained a baseball fan for the remainder of her life.

Midge was a passionate gardener, especially for roses; an avid bridge and mahjong player; and enjoyed golf. She was a member of the Caldwell chapter of P.E.O. and Boone Memorial Presbyterian Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; by her brothers, Richard R. Norman (Myrtle,) of Salem, OR and Dudley V. Norman (Dorothy), of Poway CA; brothers, Edward and Lyle, who died in infancy; and her husband, Gene.

Midge is survived by her sister, Reva Ilene Thompson Durning, of Lewiston, ID; by her sons, Ronald N. Graves (Diane), of Boise and Michael E. Graves (Suzanne), of Los Altos Hills, CA; and her daughter, Maureen G. Frisby (Rodney), of Caldwell; by six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren; as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Boone Memorial Presbyterian Church at 14th and Dearborn in Caldwell on Thursday, August 18th at 11:00 a.m. under the direction of Dakan Funeral Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made in Midge's name to The College of Idaho, 2112 Cleveland Blvd, Caldwell, ID 83605, or the Caldwell YMCA, 3720 S. Indiana Ave, Caldwell, ID 83605.

A memorial service will be held at Boone Memorial Presbyterian Church at 14th and Dearborn in Caldwell on Thursday, August 18th at 11:00 a.m. under the direction of Dakan Funeral Chapel. Burial will be held prior at 9:30 a.m. at Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell.


Published in Idaho Statesman on August 17, 2011

Mildred Elizabeth Norman Graves 1911 - 2011

Mildred ("Midge") Graves of Caldwell, passed away of natural causes on August 15, 2011 at home in Caldwell.

She was born October 26, 1911 in Wilder, Idaho, to Charles Edward Norman and Nellie Russell Norman. Midge was born at home on her parents' homestead on the Wilder Bench. She was the third of six children born to Charles and Nellie, two of whom died during their childhood. Midge attended school in Wilder, as well as in Jefferson and Roseburg, Oregon, graduating from Wilder High School in 1930.

After graduation, she attended business college in Nampa while living with her aunt, Elizabeth Stockwell, in Caldwell. Jobs were hard to come by during the Great Depression when she completed business school in 1931, especially for single women, but she was fortunate to receive an offer from Caldwell attorney, George Scatterday, to work in his law office, just "for the experience".

It was there that she met Fred Mitchell, an insurance agent, who offered her full time, paid employment in the fall of 1931. Midge married Vernon Eugene ("Gene") Graves on August 22, 1932. In 1936, Mr. Mitchell passed away unexpectedly and she convinced her husband to enter the insurance business. Midge continued to manage the Fred Mitchell Agency until Gene completed insurance school in Baltimore, Maryland, at which point they purchased the Fred Mitchell Agency and changed the name to Mitchell Graves Agency. In the early 1950's, J. B. "Bernie" Holden became a partner in the agency and its name was changed to Graves-Holden Insurance.

Although the agency was sold in 1976, Midge continued to work at the agency until she ultimately retired in 1983.

Midge was an avid baseball fan. She began playing baseball in the eighth grade when she was asked to fill in on a boys' baseball team in Roseburg, Oregon, which didn't have enough players to fill out the team. Upon returning to Wilder, she played on the Wilder High School girls' baseball team through graduation. She remained a baseball fan for the remainder of her life.

Midge was a passionate gardener, especially for roses; an avid bridge and mahjong player; and enjoyed golf. She was a member of the Caldwell chapter of P.E.O. and Boone Memorial Presbyterian Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; by her brothers, Richard R. Norman (Myrtle,) of Salem, OR and Dudley V. Norman (Dorothy), of Poway CA; brothers, Edward and Lyle, who died in infancy; and her husband, Gene.

Midge is survived by her sister, Reva Ilene Thompson Durning, of Lewiston, ID; by her sons, Ronald N. Graves (Diane), of Boise and Michael E. Graves (Suzanne), of Los Altos Hills, CA; and her daughter, Maureen G. Frisby (Rodney), of Caldwell; by six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren; as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Boone Memorial Presbyterian Church at 14th and Dearborn in Caldwell on Thursday, August 18th at 11:00 a.m. under the direction of Dakan Funeral Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made in Midge's name to The College of Idaho, 2112 Cleveland Blvd, Caldwell, ID 83605, or the Caldwell YMCA, 3720 S. Indiana Ave, Caldwell, ID 83605.

A memorial service will be held at Boone Memorial Presbyterian Church at 14th and Dearborn in Caldwell on Thursday, August 18th at 11:00 a.m. under the direction of Dakan Funeral Chapel. Burial will be held prior at 9:30 a.m. at Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell.


Published in Idaho Statesman on August 17, 2011



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  • Maintained by: R.I.P.
  • Originally Created by: Barb
  • Added: Aug 17, 2011
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75052441/mildred_elizabeth-graves: accessed ), memorial page for Mildred Elizabeth “Midge” Norman Graves (26 Oct 1911–15 Aug 2011), Find a Grave Memorial ID 75052441, citing Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell, Canyon County, Idaho, USA; Maintained by R.I.P. (contributor 47339884).