Lois (Lowie) Guilbert Graves passed away of natural causes after struggling with ALS in Aptos, Calif. on Sept. 26 at the age of 88.
Graves was born to Harold R. and Frances Marie Guilbert on Aug. 13, 1925 in Woodland, Calif. She and her sister, Mary Francis (Mowie), grew up on the UC Davis campus, where their father was a professor and their step mother was dean of women.
Graves graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1948. She married fellow Berkeley alum W. Clark Graves in 1946 in Carson City, Nev. The couple raised five children, and saw the birth of nine grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
As the family grew in the 1950s, they moved several times, eventually settling in Malibu, where Graves began teaching at St. Aidan’s preschool. She continued her teaching career at Harbor High School after moving to Newport Beach in 1973.
Graves moved to Ketchum, Idaho in the late 1980s to be near her daughter, Lynn. For the next 35 years, Graves remained engaged in charitable and church-related activities, while providing a home away from home for many children.
Graves was also an avid outdoorswoman, hiker, biker, swim traveler, and visited Russia, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia.
“Lowie lived a charmed and very full life, full of love and chal lenge,” Graves’ family wrote. “She was always quick with a lending hand and deeply engaged spiritually.”
Graves is survived by her children, Lynn Knudson and husband Tom, Leslie Hayes and husband John, Stefan Graves and wife Regina, Janet Graves and Scott Graves; grandchildren Bodhi Downer and wife Lisa and family, Lindsey Hayes-Koelman and husband Onno, Tashina Brown and husband Kawika and family, Kyle Hayes, Darshana Nani Lane, Coco Knudson, Sangjay Smith and Orgyen Decosse-Graves. She was preceded in death by her grandson La’akea Sky Smith and husband Clark Graves.
Memorial services will take place Friday, Nov. 8, at St. Thomas Church in Ketchum, Idaho. A reception/celebration of life will take place at the 511 Building in Ketchum (Leadville Avenue), following a brief committal in the St. Thomas columbarium.