John David Graham, age 67, died Monday, December 26, 2011 in Plano, Texas.

Funeral Services were held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 31, 2011 at the Des Moines School Gymnasium with Terrell Jones, pastor of the Trinity Fellowship Church in Clayton officiating. Burial followed in the Des Moines Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directros of Clayton.

John David Graham was born to Claude R Graham and Ruth (Baldwin) Graham on November 23, 1944, in Socorro, New Mexico. He attended schools in Datil, New Mexico and Magdalena, New Mexico and graduated from New Mexico State University College of Agriculture in 1968. In August of 1965, he married Midge (York) and they began their careers together in areas of education. David taught vocational agriculture at Des Moines High School for four and a half years; then spent a year at the New Mexico Department of Education as a vocational agriculture specialist/state supervisor. In August of 1973, he started his career with the Cooperative Extension Service as the Agricultural Agent in Union County. He loved his county and its people; and he was absolutely committed to agriculture programs, 4-H and FFA programs, cattle ranching and range management in Union County and statewide. He committed time and his real focus to research of noxious weeds, range pests, and pesticide management for many years. He co-authored many scientific papers, working collaboratively with research specialists at New Mexico State University and the United States Department of Agriculture Poisonous Plants Lab in Logan, Utah. David was preceded in death by his father and mother, a special nephew Jimmy Graham, his brother-in-law Dick White, a favorite uncle Jimmy Graham, and maternal and paternal grandparents. Also, by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, David and Sylvia (Peppin) York.

SURVIVORS: He is survived by his wife, Midge, of the family home in Des Moines; a son Kevin of Plantersville, Texas; a daughter Wendy (Cory) Fulfer of Jal, New Mexico; his daughter Stacy Graham of McKinney, Texas, and daughter-in-law, Beth Graham, of Spring, Texas. He leaves behind eight "perfect grandchildren": Matthew, Emily, Trevor, and Carly Graham; KC, Kimberlee, and Kolby Taylor; Alex Graham. Also surviving is his brother Lee (Bonnie) Graham of Raton and his sister, Ellen (Don) Hiles, of Alamogordo. He is survived by a most special Aunt Helen and cousins in Montana. Near and dear to his heart are his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Buddy and Jennifer York, Sue and Dallas Dowell, Elaine and Larry O'Neal. Surviving are nieces and nephews: Susanne, Leona, Barbara, Billie, Bobbie, Justin, Tiffany, Denton, David, Kaila, Toy, Timothy, Dorothy, Jennifer and Michael.

MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Union County Fair Board. Memorial donations can be sent to Union County Extension Office, c/o Tommy Jantz, PO Box 428, Clayton, NM 88415.