Gladys Viola Graham

Gladys Viola Nichols Graham was a radiant loving soul.  She brought joy and inspiration to all who knew her.

A funeral mass will be held on Monday, January 22^nd at Holy Cross Parish, St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Sioux City with Father Peter Nguyen as celebrant at 10:30 a.m.  Visitation with the family will be at the church at 9:30 a.m., one hour prior to the service. Burial at Calvary Cemetery will follow. The Funeral Mass will be live streamed at the following link: https://youtu.be/ULmCtJxX3_g 

She was born on May 2, 1922, in Booneville, Mississippi to Robert and Lina (Tigrett) Nichols.

After graduating from high school, she worked as a secretary and inventory clerk at Brookley Airfield in Mobile, Alabama. It was there that she met her husband, Larry Graham.   They married in Pensacola, Florida in 1944. 

After their marriage she joined the Catholic faith which became the cornerstone and foundation of her faith throughout her life. They settled in Sioux City, Iowa where she was an active member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church.  She and Larry were a team couple for Marriage Encounter.

She worked as a secretary for several businesses in Sioux City including for the Holy Spirit Sisters, Weatherwax, and the March of Dimes.

She spent many happy hours as a volunteer at Trinity Heights Queen of Peace, helping to plant many of the beautiful flowers in the gardens there and working in the gift shop as well.

Gardening was a special talent and passion of hers, she received her Master Gardener certification from Iowa State University in 1994.  Her yard was amazing to see and a pleasure for all in the neighborhood to enjoy.

She enjoyed sewing, crafting, cooking and was a fierce cribbage player.  Many games of cribbage were enjoyed with her neighbor Joan Streck and her grandson Travis and his wife Cassidi. Spending time with family and friends was her favorite activity of all.

In 2013 she moved to Omaha, NE to be near her family. She resided at Notre Dame Housing with the sisters of Notre Dame and later moved to New Cassel Retirement home with the sisters of St. Francis.

She is survived by her daughter Sherri Anne Folsom (Kip) of Omaha, NE, and her grandson Travis Parks (Cassidi) of Omaha as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Graham, parents Robert and Lina, sisters, Mary Mauveline and Mavis Pauline, brothers Oliver, Ben, Donald, Edward, Howard, Luther, and Frederick.

Memorials may be sent to the Trinity Heights Queen of Peace www.trinityheights.com.