Velma Louise Brandon Graves was born on November 1, 1925, north of Otis second child of Clifford and Veda (Dodge) Brandon and departed October 12, 2015 in Brush, Colorado.

Just a few months old her parents moved the family to the Holland Ranch south of Otis. Rex and Irene Howlett and their small son John also lived on the same ranch. Mother and Irene lived in constant fear of rattlesnakes, because the snakes even crawled into the houses.

The spring of 1927 the family moved to the Alishouse Ranch20 miles south east of Akron, or straight south of Planter.

Velma got her elementary education at High Prairie and Golden Rod schools. May 1938 the family moved to Onalaska, Washington, where she had her 8th through 12th grades, graduating in 1943. In the fall of 1943 the family returned to a farm in Akron, Colorado. She taught school on a war emergency certificate for three years.

During this time she met Harold Graves, they were married on May 24, 1947. They lived in the High Prairie community ten years, where they built a small house on her father's property. To this union there were five children Frances, Dorothy, Terry, Glennis, and Martin.

In 1959 they moved to Brush where they made their home for the next three years. While living in Brush Velma was a Cub Scout leader for her son Terry, and a 4-H leader for her daughters. In 1962 the family moved to Brighton, Colorado for a year and half before returning to Akron in 1963. Harold started his own construction business and Velma worked for O'Dell's Super Market for thirteen years. In the spring of 1978 they sold the house in Akron they had built and moved southwest of Akron to a new home the couple built.

When Harold's health forced him to sell his business they moved into Akron where they lived for several years. The couple loved to take long drives, sometimes reaching destinations on the spur of the moment.

Velma's hobbies were sewing, embroidering, and crocheting. She loved to can fruits and vegetables when in season. In 2015 at the age of 89 she entered seven embroidery and crochet projects in the Washington County Fair and won seven blue ribbons and Grand Champion.

She was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Akron, and the BT Extention Club in Akron.

She is preceded in death by her husband Harold, son Martin, granddaughter Nicole Graves, grandsons Charles Harouff, Edward and Matthew Kitzman, her parents Clifford and Veda Brandon, brothers Wayne and Burnell Brandon, parent in laws Leo and Pauline Graves, sister in law Betty Brandon, brother in law's Terry Herron, Ivis Resler, Dean Dragert, niece Tammy Brandon Wolfe, nephews Curtis Dragert, Danny Brandon, Derek, Jason, and Jeffery Brandon.

She is survived by her children Frances (Clair) Harouff of Wray, Dorothy (Eddie) Kitzman of Ft. Morgan, Terry (Linda) Graves of Sterling, and Glennis (Steve) Bomar of Thorton, 11 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. Sisters Veda Resler of Akron, Marcelyn (John) Patterson of Otis, and Phyllis Dragert of Brush; brothers John (Alvina)Brandon, Jim (Vicki) Brandon, Russell (LeAnn) Brandon, Marvin (Carolyn) Brandon all of Akron, and Earl Brandon of Denver, Louise Graves TenEyke of Sterling, Velma Graves Herron of Brush, and Donald Graves of Burlington. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, one aunt and numerous friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Interment will follow the Mass at the Akron Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Altar & Rosary Society.