Donald Ernest Graham, 77

Donald Ernest Graham, 77, was taken from his loving family Dec. 15, 2010, after enduring a violent collision on I-90 during the course of his job duties for Service Master where he worked part-time as maintenance mechanic.

Born premature and sickly in Denver, Colo., in 1933, Don knew only extreme poverty throughout most of his childhood. His parents, Ernest and Esther Graham divorced soon after his birth and his mother, he and his only sibling, an older sister Bonnie, traveled throughout the country in search of work.

Don's first jobs were picking vegetables and cotton with his family. Still, he was beaten often by his harried mother. Later, they moved to Arizona and Don's life became better and he fulfilled a boy's dream by working as a rider on a cattle drive. He lived in Hackberry and Kingman, Ariz., as well as California as a child.

Despite his upbringing, he managed to graduate high school and was a bright, optimistic and cheerful soul who early on showed strong aptitude for all things mechanical. He proudly built a crystal radio as a boy and learned to repair nearly anything and especially loved to work on the many cars he later owned. Other early jobs included working as a radio broadcaster and in the Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Guard.

Later, he joined the United States Air Force where he served as a crew chief mechanic. After honorable discharge, Don worked as an aircraft inspector for major corporations and trained as a Journeyman Ironworker and worked on the "high steel" most often "bolting up" on many major construction projects, such as the Minuteman II missile sites, around the country both "with his tools" and in positions of foreman and both construction and maintenance superintendent, and as maintenance mechanic for many other companies.

Endlessly adaptable, he also had a strong work ethic and was generous with his time and abilities. Anyone who worked with Don had ample reasons to like and respect him, as his friends at Service Master most recently can attest to and where he last enjoyed sharing his skills and life experiences.

The peace, beauty and solitude of the outdoors, often shared with good friends, especially his "best bud" William "Wild Bill" Kutz, was what Don craved for all his life. He was especially proud of being a seasoned private pilot of his own Stearman airplane and being privileged to see beauties most have not. He enjoyed: hunting, especially upland birds; fly fishing; camping and nature photography, especially flowers. He tied his own flies, was an avid reloader, loved country music and made the best antelope chili and biscuits and even beer.

Don also enjoyed tinkering around his home and perfecting his garden and had volunteered at a church food bank for about two years before moving to Idaho. His first marriage to wife Jo Ann, with whom he had two daughters, Donna and Susan, ended in divorce. Later, Don met Karen, and they remained married for more than 29 years and have one son, Gordon, together.

A large and manly man, Don was nonetheless a gentle giant and a most sensitive soul and he doted on his beloved only son and remained in love and friendship with his wife. His strong and quiet presence, his smiles, laughter and delight in joke-telling will be missed by all who knew him. Don was baptized in 2008 in Lake Coeur d'Alene and we are confident he is with the Lord.

A memorial celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 8, 2011, which would have been Don and Karen's 30th wedding anniversary, at Lake City Community Church in Coeur d'Alene.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Food Bank at Lake City Community Church.