Dail Allen Graham

Dail Allen Graham, 78, of Pittsburg, Missouri passed away Friday, August 24, 2012. He was born in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Kenneth Justin and Evelyn Esther Lowe Graham. Dail was a veteran of the U.S. Army, retiring from service as a Major, serving a total of 30 years in the Army, National Guard, and Army Reserves. He was a metallurgical engineer working in the Wichita aviation industry for Boeing and Cessna before co-founding the company, Paragon NDT & Finishes. Dail and his family began coming to this area many years ago and moved permanently to the Pittsburg area in 1992. He and wife Mary founded, own and operate Eagle's Nest Resort at Lake Pomme de Terre and Eagle's Nest Log Home Community. Dail was past President of the Pomme de Terre Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. While in Wichita, Dail was past President of both the American Society of Metals, and the Sunflower Model A's. He loved the outdoors, enjoying fishing, bird hunting, both upland and waterfow, and upon moving to the area, became an avid fly fisherman. He was a member of Tri-Lakes Fly Fishers of Bolivar and the Fly Fishing Federation of America. He learned the art of tying flies and gave fly-tying demonstrations at the Southern Council Conclave in Mountain Home, Arkansas each fall, Sowbug Roundup in the spring, and Smallmouth Rendezvous in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He also taught fly-tying at the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch, Brighton, Missouri with the Tri-Lakes Fly Fishers. A real passion for Dail became Project Healing Waters, which allowed him to combine his love for fly fishing and helping disabled U.S. veterans. Dail and son Jeff also were active as fishing guides at Lake Pomme de Terre. Dail was preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter, Natalie Rateliff. He is survived by his wife Mary of the home; daughter Jennifer Graham-Rateliff and husband Joseph of Wichita, son Jeff Graham and Susan Coffman of Springfield, daughter Melanie Parker and husband Frank of Derby, Kansas; grandchildren Blake and Celia Rateliff; Margaret Anne Dugan; Isabella, Graham, Luke, Elaina and Seth Parker; sisters Judie Castrisos of Wichita, Kansas and Rosanne DeFilippo and husband Richard of Murietta, California. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Tuesday, August 28 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bolivar with Father Pat Wissman as Celebrant. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM Monday, August 27 at Murray Funeral Home in Bolivar with a prayer service at 7 PM. A memorial service will take place at 10:00 AM September 8, 2012 at St. Jude Catholic Church, Wichita, Kansas, with interment following at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Wichita. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Sacred Heart Church Building Fund or Project Healing Waters/Springfied Chapter/ Heartland Region in care of Tri-Lakes Fly-Fishers. Online condolences may be sumbitted to http://www.murrayfuneralhomes.com/. PDF Printable Version

Dail Allen Graham

August 9, 1934 - August 24, 2012