On December 26, 2016, Mary Delia (Higgins) Graves passed away peacefully at her home in Logan, Kansas with her family by her side at the age of 81 years.

MaryDel, oldest daughter of Leonard and Augusta "Gussie" (Mock) Higgins, was born in Nowata, Oklahoma on April 27, 1935. She moved with her family to Logan, Kansas in 1942. MaryDel attended Logan High School, graduating with the class of 1953. She attended Marymount College in Salina, Kansas, and then moved to Wichita, Kansas, taking night classes at Wichita University for one year.

On August 23, 1958 she was united in marriage to George Graves in Logan, Kansas at St. John's Catholic Church. To this union seven children were born: Thomas William, John Michael, Daniel Joseph, Michael, Anne Theresa, Richard James and William Patrick.

MaryDel was a devoted mother who loved sewing & quilting, collecting Santa Claus figurines, nativity sets and owls, and most recently, making barn quilts. She loved reading (especially to her grandchildren) and after retiring from the Logan Library she continued to visit and check out new books whenever possible. In the early mornings, from spring through fall, you could find her puttering around in her flower gardens and strolling through town on her daily walks.

MaryDel was a devout Catholic and prayed the rosary nightly. She was very involved in scouting and was the proud mother of five Eagle Scouts. She treasured her grandchildren and her greatest joys were hearing about all their activities and accomplishments.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Leonard & Augusta; her infant son, Michael; and her sister, Rosemary Schamberger.

Survivors include her husband, George, of the home; her children: Thomas of Logan, KS; John (Heather) of Castle Rock, CO; Daniel (Susanne) of Splendora, TX; Anne Palen (Rodney) of Beloit, KS; Richard (Cindy) of Bel Aire, KS; and William of Lexington, KY; 11 grandchildren: Collin, Austin, Kevin, Joshua, Keegan, Matthew, Caleb, Alison, Vincent, Kalie and Logan; and one great-grandchild, Grayson. Also surviving are her sisters, Virginia "Gingy" Baskett (Marvin) and Michaeleen "Mikey" Flores, all of Mesa, AZ; her sister-in-law, Agnes Yantz of Kansas City, KS; and many nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 29, 2016 in the St. John's Catholic Church in Logan, KS, with Father George Chalbhagam officiating. Cremation will follow mass, with inurnment in the Pleasant View Cemetery at a later date.

A Scriptural Wake Service will be at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 28, 2016 in the Logan Funeral Home, 102 E. Church Street, Logan, KS 67646, with the family receiving friends for visitation from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. that evening.

Mrs. Graves will lie in state from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Logan Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Logan City Library, St. John's Catholic Church Ladies Guild or Hospice Services, Inc.