There's an empty chair at 821 Enterprise Drive. A man is now resting in his final resting place. A quiet and gentle man, he was never loud or boastful. His twinkling eye and sparkling smile made us laugh until we cried. He was always ready to pass out a piece of candy, a "Starburst" or a "Fireball", whenever the moment arose.

On the 24th of November, 1939, a son was born to Otis and Jeffie Graves in Los Angeles, CA. They named him Otis Graves, Jr. Later, he became known to his family and friends as "POOGIE", and we still don't know why Uncle Hoyle gave him this nickname or why his little brother got the nickname of "Hot Papa". The verdict is still out on that one.

Otis married his first wife, Connie Cunningham Gilyard, and in this union they had one son, Alfred Gilyard (Graves). When their marriage ended, Otis married his second wife, Eveleen (Thomas) Graves, on August 5th, 1967, in Summit, OK, and in this union, they were blessed with two daughters, Yolanda "Lynn" and Danielle.

They later moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1968, then on to Piqua, Ohio, in 1972, where he worked as a Machine Operator, for Miami Industries, which later became LTV CopperWeld, for 30 years, until he retired, and in those thirty years, Otis was an avid softball coach for the Piqua Youth Baseball and Softball Association, where he coached and managed Danielle and her teammates for many years. They then relocated back to their hometown of Rentiesville, Oklahoma.

Otis was preceded in death by his wife, Eveleen Graves, parents, Jeffie (Jackie) and Otis Graves, Sr., grandparents, Frank and Louise Price, brother, Frank Graves, and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Otis leaves to cherish his memory: one sister, Anita Upshaw of Seattle, WA; three children, Alfred Gilyard (Graves) of Checotah, OK, Yolanda "Lynn" Wright (Graves) of Muskogee, OK, and Danielle A. Graves of Checotah, OK; five grandchildren, Ashley Gilyard of Tulsa, OK, Monice Nelson of Kansas City, MO, Na'Shadame J. Wright of Muskogee, OK, Cedric James Otis Wright of Dayton, OH, and Kennedy A. Graves of Kearney, NE; and a host of nieces, nephews, great- grandkids, cousins, and friends.

Mr. Otis Graves, Jr., entered Eternal Life on Sunday, February 13, 2022 at the Jack C. Montgomery Veteran Affairs Hospital in Muskogee.

The Hour of Remembrance for Mr. Graves will commence on Friday, February 25, 2022 at the Eleventh Hour in the most holy sanctuary of Faith Church in Checotah.

You may visit Otis, as he slumbers in peaceful repose at the funeral home on Thursday, February 24, 2022 from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM.

Burial will immediately follow the services in the Honey Springs Cemetery in Rentiesville, Oklahoma with Military Honors.