Charlene Graham

July 12, 1931 - August 22, 2019

Charlene A. Graham, 88, of Clifton passed away August 22, 2019 at Presence Merkle Knipprath Countryside. She was born July 12, 1931 to Burnet T. and Bertha R. (Ruder) Yeates in Bonfield, IL. Charlene graduated from Herscher High School. She married LeRoy Graham on July 31, 1953 in Los Angeles and he passed away on March 24, 2013. Charlene was employed as a Legal Secretary from 1950 to 1993 when she retired. She loved to travel, play cards, crossword puzzles, family get- togethers and gardening. Especially planting Pansy’s in the winter and Begonias in the summer. Charlene enjoyed attending the Senior Citizens Group “Hilltoppers” and was of the Catholic faith. Surviving 2 sisters and a brother-in-law; Gerri Rashinskas of Clifton and Nancy Sunnen of Somonauk, IL, 1 brother and sister-in-law; James (Judi) Yeates of Omaha, NE. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews and a special niece, Kay Scott. Charlene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, LeRoy Graham; two brothers, William and Andrew Yeates and two brothers-in-law, John Rashinskas and Leslie Sunnen. Memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2019 at Presence Merkle Knipprath St. Francis Chapel in Clifton, IL from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Charlene’s funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. Private inurnment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery will take place at a later date. Memorials may be made to Presence Merkle Knipprath Countryside Activities Department in Clifton, IL or Open Door Rehabilitation Center in Sandwich, IL. Please sign her online guestbook at www.schrefflerfuneralhomes.com.