IN M E MO R I A M
Mary Brinkley
Nadine Graham
Mary Theresa Brinkley, 37, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at her home in Centerview, MO. She was born Feb. 7, 1977, in St. Charles, MO, the daughter of James and Judith Ann (Siburt) Utterson. She was administrative secretary for the UCM Department of Nutrition and Kinesiology.
L. Nadine Graham, 84, of Warrensburg, died Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, at the Warrensburg Manor Care Center. She was the wife of Justyn Graham, professor emeritus of elementary education, former director of the University Lab School and later coordinator of the department’s field experiences. Lola Nadine Royston was born Sept. 5, 1930, in Jamesport, MO, the only child of Forest and Lula (Chaney) Royston. She graduated from Jameson High School in a class of eight and met her husband, Justyn, at Northwest Missouri State College. Nadine and Justyn were married in 1951 at the bride’s home on Thanksgiving Day. He survives. Nadine’s first teaching position was in Rockport. After marrying Justyn, she taught in Atchison, KS, and Independence. She and Justyn then moved to Savannah and Nadine taught in nearby St. Joseph. After living in University City, Nadine and Justyn settled in Warrensburg in 1967. Dr. Graham retired in 1996, after serving 46 years in the education field. Nadine was an avid reader and participated annually in the Children’s Literature Festival.
helmed the eight-hour miniseries, “Assignment Vienna,” with Robert Conrad. In 1974, he joined the South Australian Film Corporation. He was executive producer of its first major feature success, the critically acclaimed “Picnic at Hanging Rock” that launched Peter Weir’s career as an international director. He returned to the U.S. and had deals with Universal, Zev Braun Productions, EMI and L.A. House Productions before coming to Central Missouri in 1986. A highlight of his 10 years at UCM was hosting journalist and elite war correspondent, Eric Sevareid, brought to campus as an Oppenheimer Lecturer, as a guest for three days in his home. Throughout Graves’ varied career, he played several nights as a pianist, side man or band leader at private parties for such stars as Judy Garland, Groucho Marx, Danny Thomas and John Wayne. He was on the first Betty White show, was musical director for the Gloria Hart Show on KLAC-TV and accompanied such artists as George Burns, June Christy, Rosemary Clooney, Rudy Vallee, Redd Foxx, Arthur Duncan and Jimmy Durante. He is survived by his wife, Ann; daughter, Kerry; and son, Kim and his wife Sandi.
A. John Graves
Marian Gray
A. John Graves, 86, professor emeritus of mass communication, died Nov. 10, 2014, at his home in Pagosa Springs, CO. His life included dining with Bertrand Russell, playing piano for George Burns, dancing with Anita O’Day, producing TV shows and feature films, and touring in bands. He was born in Porterville, CA, in 1928. He started at age eight to write songs and play piano and during high school toured with a dance band. After graduating from the College of the Pacific, he went to Los Angeles to break into broadcasting, eventually landing at NBC as manager of film programs, supervising such shows as “Bonanza,” “I Dream of Jeannie,” “Ironside,” “The Man from Uncle,” “Then Came Bronson,” “The Debbie Reynolds Show” and “The Monkees.” In 1970, with a management change at MGM-TV, he became director of current programming. He became the executive in charge of the award-winning “Medical Center,” “Courtship of Eddie’s Father,” “GE Monogram Documentaries” and several syndicated talk shows. In 1972, he became a producer and
Marian Luvinnie Gray, 90, long-time university key-punch operator, died Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at St. Mary’s Manor in Blue Springs. She was born Feb. 10, 1924, in rural Henry County, the daughter of Lester George and Maggie Eunice (Beckett) Hutchinson. She married John Robert Gray in 1945. He survives as well as three children, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Dennis H. Burtchell Dennis H. Burtchell, 67, died Nov. 1, 2014, at his home in Middletown, RI. He was born Aug. 24, 1947, in Presque Isle, Maine, to Harold and Arlene Burtchell. He graduated from Guilford High School in Connecticut in 1966, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966-70 and graduated in 1973 from CMSU with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He worked in the insurance field serving independent agents, taught a business class at CMSU and later became a real estate broker. He resided in Warrensburg for 30 years and then in Connecticut and Rhode Island for the past several years.
Jeanette Cunningham Jeanette I. Cunningham, 83, of Warrensburg, died Sunday, Nov. 2, at Lee’s Summit Medical Center. She was born April 8, 1931, in Rockford, MI, the daughter of George Irving and Sarah E. (Hoskins) Brantner. She worked in food service at UCM for 40 years.
Maxine Denton Margaret “Maxine” Blain Denton, a 1952 alumna, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014. She was born Aug. 22, 1930, in Blackburn, MO, the daughter of Samuel and Lula (Neer) Blain. After graduating from Sweet Springs High School, she came to Central Missouri State College, completing a B.S. in Business Administration in 1952. She then became a buyer for Stix, Baer and Fuller in St. Louis. After relocating to Kansas City, she worked at Vita Craft while obtaining a teaching certificate. She taught kindergarten for the Kansas City School District and retired in 1992. Maxine married Leslie Denton in 1957. After his death in 1994, she worked at Talbots for many years. She also was a volunteer at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for 39 years.
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Vol. 14, No. 3 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine
Maryetta Grayson Maryetta Louise Grayson, 86, formerly of Warrensburg, died Saturday, Nov. 14, 2014, at the Heartsworth Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Vinita, OK. She was born Jan. 26, 1928, in Coffeyville, KS, the daughter of Eugene and Mary Peters Watts. She married Daniel E. Grayson in 1947; he preceded her in death in 2006. She was retired from the university’s food service department where she worked several years as a dietitian.