JERRY GRAHAM
ASHER-Services for Jerry F. Graham, 69, Asher are 1:00 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church of Asher, Revs. DeWayne Johnson, David Gray, and Steve Friskup will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Ada. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday at Criswell Funeral Home in Ada.
Mr. Graham died Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at his home. He was born April 20, 1941 in Springfield, Missouri to Frank and Emma Jean Thornton Graham. He attended grade school at Huntsdale, Missouri and graduated from Hickman High School in Columbia, MO in 1958. In 1959 he graduated from Auctioneering school in Mason City, Iowa. He worked with his uncle, Tony Thornton in the auction business. He went on to sell automobile auctions in Indianapolis, Louisville and Chicago.
Jerry and his dad, Frank Graham, owned a horse ranch known as Melody Acres located in Rocheport, MO. There with his children, he was fortunate to raise, own and show 12 AQHA and APHA World Champions and many show horses.
He and his father together owned and operated 4 Square Livestock Markets at Marshall Junction, MO from 1977 to 1985. Jerry started the Heart of America Sales. This was one of the largest horse sales companies in the country at that time. With a demand for his services and his success with his horse sales, sales spread to Atlanta, GA, Kearney, NE, and Albuquerque, NM.
Jerry loved music and he had stage presence and the ability to entertain an audience. In 1981, Jerry recorded his first album in Marty Robbins Studios in Nashville, TN. He and his band went on tour and was the opening act for many great country and western singers such as Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins, Jeanne Pruitt and Willie Nelson. One of his happiest times is when he was asked to sing on the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1983, Jerry purchased the Ada Horse Sales in Ada. He had the pleasure of selling sales in 35 states and 4 provinces of Canada. In 2002, he was the General Manager of the Oklahoma Braves, a summer league collegiate baseball team and a lifelong fan of baseball and a supporter of high school and legion baseball.
He married Deborah McKnight on December 23, 1979 in Sedalia, Missouri. Mr. Graham was a member of the First Baptist Church in Asher since 2000. He was President and Founder of Men of Big Creek, a member of the American Legion Ada Post #72, the Missouri State Auction Association and a lifetime member of the American Quarter Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association and the National Cutting Horse Association. He was a member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Cattleman's Association.
Survivors include his wife, Deborah Graham, of the home; ten children, Destiny Graham, Shawnee, Travis Graham and wife Breanna, Ada, Justin Graham and wife Jami, Byars, Les Graham and wife Amy, Ada, Melissa McCoy and husband Keith, Texarkana, AR, Melody Plants, Oak Island, NC, Lori Graham, Benson, NC, Shelly Quinney, Raleigh, NC, Jerry Graham, Jr., Conway, MO and Sabrina Silverman and husband Phil, Columbia, MO; 17 grandchildren, Hagen and Kadie Graham, Byars; Jewell and Lola Graham, Ada; Makayla and Kolten McCoy, Texarkana, AR; Cody Graham of Ft. Bragg; Tyler Graham, Little River, SC; Magean Graham, Oak Island, NC; Taylor Iannarelli, Monroe, NC; Kylie Quinney, Raleigh, NC, Seth Quinney, Raleigh, NC; Malena Graham, MO; Derick Graham, MO; and Jessie Graham, MO; Jeremey Hale and wife Bobbie, Columbia, MO; and Jeanna Basnett and husband Andy, Pensacola, FL; one great grandchild, Adrian Russell, Oak Island, NC; one sister, Judy Layher, Branson, MO; and his father, Frank Graham and his wife Olive of Columbia, MO.
He was preceded in death by his mother; grandparents, George and Wilma Graham and C. R. and Juanita Thornton.
Bearers will be Sonny Humphrey, Eddie Bottoms, Ross Williams, Ronnie Zorger, Rob Patrick, Jim Walton, Kyle King, Tom Gillum and Daniel Wood. Honorary bearers will be Jim Reynolds, Harold Brown, Joel White, L. J. Powell, Kenneth Sherrill, Ed Bottoms, Don Green and Randy Davidson.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada