Remembering…

Jimmie Earl Graham was born on February 27, 1932, in Quinter Kansas to Samuel Earl and Luella Mae (Milroy) Graham. He passed away Friday May 27, 2016 at the Long Term Care Facility in Quinter at the age of 84. He graduated from Quinter High School with the class of 1950.

Jimmie married his high school sweetheart, Evelyn McWilliams on April 26, 1952. They were happily married for 59 years until Evelyn's death in 2011.

After high school, Jimmie worked for Blair Construction building bridges. He loved to take his family on back highways to point out the bridges they built. He then worked at the KT station on old Highway 40. Upon hearing the news in 1962 that Interstate 70 was coming through Quinter, Jimmie took the opportunity to build a gas station. By 1963 he built the Q Inn Restaurant and in 1965 the Q Motel was added. Along with his wife Evelyn, they operated these businesses until selling them in 2005. Over the years they provided jobs for nearly 1,000 people. Always one to stay busy, Jimmie soon found a job working in the housekeeping department at the Gove County Medical Center. He worked there until retiring at the age of 80.

Jimmie was full of energy and rarely sat still. In his younger days he earned his pilot's license and bought a Cessna airplane. He enjoyed flying his family around the area and seeing the bird's eye view of the family farms. He also liked to spend time at the family cabin at Cedar Bluff. There he taught his daughters to water ski and drive the boat. If there was ever a problem he was quick to find a solution. You could give him a piece of wood and a toothpick and he would build a porch. Sometimes there didn't even need to be a problem for Jimmie to find an opportunity to "jimmify" something.

He is survived by his four daughters, Cynthia Porter of Manhattan, Diana Anderson of Olathe, Noralee Gillespie of Quinter, and Joyce Schneider and husband, Bill, of Collyer; eight grandchildren, Courtney Albin and husband, Nathan, Jasmyn Ostmeyer and husband, Heath, Cameron Anderson, Jocelyn Ross and husband, Laurence, Corryn Anderson, Jimmy Griffin and Danielle William, Jordan Schneider and Ashly Farr, Jessica Schneider; and eight great-grandchildren, Maia Albin, Graham and Isley Ostmeyer, Mason Rohleder, Traye Ross, Taylor Siburt, Makyla Griffin, and Maycee Murphy; a brother, Don Graham and wife, Deanne, and three sisters, Rose Boyle and husband, Scott, Shirley Coufal and husband, Gerry, Sharon Estes and husband, Kenn; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

His parents; wife Evelyn; and brother Chet preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at United Methodist Church, Quinter. Burial will be in the Baker Township Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Quinter United Methodist Church or Gove County Medical Center LTC. Contributions made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.

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Those we love don't go away…
They walk beside us every day unseen, unheard, but always near.
Still loved, missed and very dear.