Jean W. Graham-Kline

Jean W. Graham-Kline, 90, longtime Moses Lake resident, passed away Sunday, March 22, 2009, at Kennewick General Hospital.

She was born on Nov. 12, 1918, in Anderson, Calif., to William H. and Nora M. Turner. William died in 1932 and Nora took her children to Boise, Idaho, where Jean and her siblings continued their schooling.

In May of 1936, Jean married her high school sweetheart, Jack Reitan. Two children, Jackie and Judy, were born to this union, which ended in 1945.

Jean married Kenneth Graham in 1948 and Kathy was born in 1949, the same year the family moved to Moses Lake.

While in Boise, Jean worked at many jobs to raise her young family. One of those was for Joe Albertson at his first grocery store. She worked for the VA in Boise and the Housing Authority in Moses Lake, finally landing what she described as “the happiest job she ever had” — the North Central Regional Library — where she and Otis Rinker brought books to communities in the Central Basin on the first Book Mobile. Since her retirement in 1979, Jean maintained many close friendships with her co-workers, the community, other 4-H leaders and Skyline Acres neighbors. Her yard was a showplace and she was thankful for the greenhouse Kenny built for her many years earlier. Flowers from the yard were shared with her garden club and at the Grant County Fair.

In 1983, Jean married longtime family friend, Jim Kline, and moved to California. After his death, she returned to Moses Lake, where she resided until moving to the Royal Columbian Retirement Inn in Kennewick in 2000. At the time of her death, she was being cared for in “Tranquility Haven,” an adult family home operated by Bernadette McBride and her excellent staff of caregivers and nurses.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, William and Nora Turner-Richardson; husbands, Kenneth Graham in 1977, and Jim Kline in 1989; brothers, Marion and William Turner; sisters, Ruby Hubert and Dorothy Finlay; her son-in-law, Neal Knighten; and special niece, Pat Gardner.

Surviving family members are her three daughters, Jackie Knighten, Judy (Clyde) Burns, and Kathy (Bill) Nuckolls; grandchildren, Mike and Steve (Doris) Knighten, Corie Otto, Jeannie (Tony) Olivas, Kelly (Mark) Malloy, Debby (Cody) Easterday; 18 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren; numerous nephews and nieces.

Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel and Crematory in Moses Lake. Memorial services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1020 S. A St., Moses Lake, on Friday, at 11 a.m., with Pastor David Daugs officiating. Graveside service at the Moses Lake Cemetery will take place at 10 a.m., prior to the memorial service. Public viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Thursday at Kayser’s Chapel of Memories.

You may sign the guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com.

Jean’s family would like to thank the staff at the Royal Columbian and Tranquility Haven. Special thanks to Dr. Al-Hawamdeh, Pastor Larry Hansmeier of Kennewick First Christian Church, and the staff of Kennewick General Hospital for their loving and compassionate care at the end of her life.

Gifts in Jean’s memory can be made to Friends of the Library, 534 W. Pine Dr., Moses Lake, WA 98837.