Edgar Henry Graham, Jr. died Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospital East in Lee’s Summit, Mo., where he was being treated for issues likely related to his years-long battle with NASH cirrhosis.
Known as “Ed” or “Eddie” depending on when you got to know him, he was born on Feb. 17, 1955, in Iola, Kan. Ed grew up in Uniontown, Kan., and attended school in the USD 235 district, graduating as high school valedictorian in 1973.
Ed married Nancy Sue Russell Graham in 1971 and the two remained married until his death. Their son, Christopher Andrew, died shortly after he was born.
Marrying and enduring tragedy at age 16 was not easy for Ed or Nancy, but the pair persevered through many trials and together had three more children between 1980 and 1991: Nicholas Adam (Karen), Douglas Russell (Kristen), and Krisanna Georgia Elaine.
Ed and Nancy have nine grandchildren: Leia, Piper and Isabelle from Nick and Karen in Uniontown; and Gabby, Andrew, Ellie, Katherine, Peter and Daniel from Doug and Kristen in Girard, Kan.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Laura Graham and Edgar Graham, Sr., an infant son, Christopher, and a sister, Ruth Townsley.
In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his sisters, Betty Oharah (Jerry) of Overland Park and Nancy Corrao (Patrick) of Edgefield, South Carolina.
Ed took pride in being a provider for his family. He started his professional life following in his father’s footsteps, building many homes throughout the area. Toward the end of his tenure as a full-time contractor, he co-founded Big Sugar Lumber.
In the early 1990s, Ed branched out from construction and built a successful insurance agency in Fort Scott. Later, as an American Family Insurance district manager based in Salina, Kan., he coached agents throughout the western half of the state.
Ed had a passion for civil service and was often considered a level-headed voice of reason by his colleagues. He served on the Fort Scott City Planning Commission, the USD 235 school board, the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees, and the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center (Greenbush) Board of Directors.
Rev. Marty Dewitt will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 28, at the Uniontown Missionary Baptist Church, where Ed grew up attending with his mother.
Burial will follow at the Centerville Cemetery, with a message from Bro. Paul Rooks of Grace Baptist Tabernacle, where Ed and Nancy were members.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27, at Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Care to Share, which has provided invaluable support to Ed’s grandson Peter throughout his ongoing leukemia treatment and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.