Harold Graves, Sr.

Harold Clifton Graves, Sr.

Medina, Tennessee

Mr. Harold Clifton Graves, Sr., age 90, died peacefully in his sleep early in the morning on Saturday, August 28, 2021.

He was taken from his mother shortly after his birth because she was so ill. Now, they are together having a wonderful time.

Harold left the family farm in Medina, Tennessee when he was only seventeen years old to join the United States Navy. He served twenty years on active duty. After retirement from the Navy, Harold worked for the Department of Defense for an additional twenty-four years. While in the San Diego area, he met the love of his life, Sheila Kaye Thomas. When he retired they married in March of 1971. They were married for fifty years and five months.

Harold and Sheila had a great love affair. Their best times were spent while camping with their little boys. Scott grew up to work on private yachts making his way up to Captain on several different boats. He even talked his younger brother, Cliffie, into the yachting life as well. They served on some boats together.

Cliffie was named after his father, Harold. He was referred to as Cliffie all of his life. Then in 2017, Cliffie had left the yachting world and was living in White House, Tennessee while working in Nashville, Tennessee. One day, while driving to work in the late afternoon, he was killed in an auto accident.

Harold and Sheila continued with their camping, but by this time they had a big motorhome. It was summers in Tennessee and winters in Florida. Harold finally got to the point where he did not feel safe driving the big rig so it was sold.

Life slowed down somewhat for the two of them but it was the way he liked it. They had lots of family and friends that they loved and associated with in the Medina area. When they lost Cliffie, it left a big hole in their hearts that will probably always remain. Now Harold and Cliffie are together again.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, September 2, 2021 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Jackson, Tennessee with burial to follow at Antioch Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10:30 A.M. until the service hour on Thursday, September 2, 2021.