Mellodee J. Livingston-Graves

Graveside services for Mellodee J. Livingston-Graves, 88, of Wichita, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence.She died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009, at the Baldwin Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.She was born Dec. 3, 1920, at Muskogee, Okla., the daughter of Colman L. Sr. and Mary Baker-Ware Livingston. She graduated from Muskogee High School in 1938. In 1942, she received an associate’s degree in education from Parsons Junior College. She then received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Wichita State University.She worked for 21 years as a supervisor at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita and was one of the first five civilians integrated by the Air Force as a supervisor for both civilian and military staff. She also taught at Carter’s School and Holy Savior Catholic School.She was a member of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Wichita, where she served as a greeter and Eucharist minister. She was also a member of ETA Phi Beta Sorority, Legion of Mary and Lay Carmelite.She married Bruce Graves Sr. on Dec. 24, 1941, in Muskogee, Okla. They later divorced. Survivors include two sons, Bruce Graves Jr., Kansas City, Kan., and Wade Graves, Lawrence; one daughter, Carolyn McNeal, Yazoo, Miss.; a brother, Vinson Livingston, Atlanta; and two grandchildren, Sarah and Beth Graves. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, three brothers and four sisters.The family will meet friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Lawrence Funeral Chapel. Online condolences may be made at barnettchapeloaks.com.