Mary Margaret Cecelia (France) Graft, passed away peacefully at home with her family in Fowler, Colorado on Thursday, 26 May, 2022.  She was born on 20 March, 1945 in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana to Charles Jacob France and Edna Thelma “Joann” (Kump) France.  She grew up in the Fort Wayne area and attended Catholic school through H.S.  She worked for Lincoln Life for many years even during the early years of her marriage to John Lee Graft.  They eloped 11 Feb, 1967 after a whirlwind romance and were married again in the Catholic church on 8 April, 1967 in Fort Wayne, IN at Precious Blood, her local parish.  They were sealed for time and all eternity in the LDS Salt Lake Temple in SLC, UT on 15 June 1984.  John and Mary were married for 55 years and had 5 daughters together.

The Graft’s moved from Fort Wayne, Indiana to Colorado in 1977 and lived in multiple cities over the years.  They have lived in Canon City, Florence, outside Rangely, Florence again, Rye, and for the last 23 years in Fowler, Colorado.

She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma, and friend.  She was considered by her family the ultimate “domestic engineer”.  Saying she was just a housewife was never accurate – she could do it all.  She was good at everything she set her mind to do; be it cooking, gardening, sewing, crafts, quilting, canning, and many more.  She loved to read, gardening and taking care of her yard was a particular favorite, especially her herbs, flowers, and fruit trees.  She loved to watch documentaries and police crime drama’s; many British inspector series were her favorites. 

She was always performing service endeavors for others over the years.  She grew up Catholic and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as an adult.  She had many callings over the years and was a Relief Society President for many years when she lived in Rye.  Her favorite calling was her time as the nursery leader in the La Junta Ward.  Where she had the opportunity to have many of her grandchildren in her class when they were little.  She loved socializing with others and many were well fed while visiting in her home.  She was a great cook that prepared most meals from scratch.  She preferred to make her own bread and egg noodles.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Theresa Ann France (1942-1967); her mother, Joann (Kump) France (1912-1998); her father, Charles France (1904-1999); sister-in-law, Sharon E. (Castle) France (1946-2000); brother, James Kenneth Jordan (1929-2009); sister-in-law, M. Louise (Wittkamper) Jordan (1925-1979), and sister-in-law, Nancy M. (Baxter) Jordan (1928-2015).

She is survived by her husband, John Graft of Fowler, CO; her brother, Michael France of Fort Wayne, IN; her nephew, Edward France of Fort Wayne, IN, her niece, Jean (France) and Todd Miller of Indiana.  Her daughters:  Kimberly (Graft) and Terry Allen of Brighton, CO; Leah Graft of Westminster, CO; Rebecca (Graft) and J. Michael Holdren of Fowler, CO; Amanda (Graft) and Jarrod Efird of Rocky Ford, CO; and Jennifer Graft of Fowler, CO.

She is also survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren:  Christopher Allen and fiancé, Brock Chamness of Brighton, CO; Jessica (Allen) and Joseph Ure and their children: Griffin, Eve, and Tadd of Robinson, TX; Elizabeth (Allen) and Andrew Collette and son: Malakai from Ogden, UT; Benjamin Long of La Junta, CO, Emma Long of Idaho Falls, ID; Samuel Long of Wichita, KS; Ammon Long of Fowler, CO; Jonah Long and Kristen Solis and  of Colorado Springs, CO; Lauren (Lucero) and Patrick Morrell and children: Allina and Lucas of Colorado Springs, CO; Ashleigh Holdren and Julio Franco and children: Ava and Adrian of Pueblo, CO; Adelaide (Efird) and James Black of Fowler, CO; Taylor (Efird) and Nicholas Colburn of Columbiana, AL; Jacob Efird of Rocky Ford, CO – but, currently serving a Mission for the LDS church in the Nashville, TN Mission; Aaron Efird of Rocky Ford, CO; Effie Winkler of Fowler, CO and fiancé Colby Nelson of UT – to be married June 17th; Owen William Graft of Fowler, CO; and little Ben, Phoenix, and Everest - the grandbabies of her heart.

There will be a viewing on Tuesday, 31 May, 2022 at the Ford-Ustick Funeral Home located at 305 N 8th St, Rocky Ford, CO from 10 am to 12 noon.  Followed by a graveside service at 1 pm at the Fowler Cemetery, located on the East side of Fowler along HWY 50.  Also, at 2:30 pm there will be a family meal at the Blackburn-Dennis Community Center located at 208th 6th St, Fowler, CO for any who want to stay after the graveside service.