Nathaniel “Nate” Maurice Graham, 52, Kansas City, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 28, 2011.
He was born in Fort Scott on Aug. 1, 1959. He was baptized at the First Christian Church in Pleasanton. He attended Fort Scott and Iola schools and graduated from Iola High School in 1977 before joining the U.S. Army in 1979.
Following training at Fort Leonard Wood he worked his way up to Specialist 4. He served at Fort Ord, Calif., and Mannheim, Germany. While in the Army he did postal work and transported jet fuel and dry loads. He also was a driver for sergeants and majors. After his discharge, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service and most recently for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo.
He married Mary Cole on Dec. 28, 1985, and they had several children before they divorced.
He grew up in the church and was recently attending Friendship Baptist Church of Kansas City, Mo.
As a young person he was involved in Scouts and sports including lettering in baseball, basketball and football. He enjoyed time with his family and many friends. His smile and laugh would help lift the spirits of those around him.
In 2008, he was honored in the Fort Scott Tribune with others who had served their country. He was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan and attended home games when he had a chance.
He is survived by his mother, Naomi D. (Eugene) Clounch Jr.; son, Jeffrey (Monica) Cole, Glendale, Calif., daughter, Jennifer M. Graham, Van Nuys, Calif., and son, Jared M. Graham, Van Nuys; a granddaughter, Brooklyn Cole, Glendale; siblings, Paul A. (Rondalyn) Graham Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., William Rodney (Glenda) Graham, Fort Scott, Thurman D. (Ida) Graham, St. Louis, Mo., Dr. Teresa L. Clounch, Baldwin City, and Gena M. Clounch (Alan Scott), Iola; nephews and nieces, Chris (Amie) Harris, Phoenix, Ariz., Tyrone (Gabrielle), Neosho, Mo., Jonathan Johnson and Chandler “Bo” Graham, Fort Scott, Mel Clark, St. Louis, and Tia Graham, California; uncles and aunts, George W. Johnson Jr., Kansas City, Gloria (Charles) Estill, Fort Worth, Texas, Kenneth Clounch, St. Louis, and Ruby Forbes and Freddie Graham, Kansas City, Mo.; and a host of cousins and friends.
Graham was preceded in death by his father, Paul A. Graham Sr. and son, Justin M. Graham.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Duane E. Harvey Funeral Home, 9100 Blue Ridge, Kansas City, Mo. Burial will take place on Dec. 12 at the Fort Scott National Cemetery.
The family will greet friends from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to services at the funeral home.
Nathaniel Graham
