Darel Graves Mar. 16, 1934~~ Mar. 8, 2012 Darel Graves won a lengthy battle against heart disease whom God took him to his eternal home on Thursday, March 8, 2012. Funeral service will be 2 P.M. Sunday at the Valley Mills First Baptist Church. Interment will be in the Valley Mills Cemetery under the direction of Foss Funeral Home. Visitation will be 5-6 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home. Darel was born on March 16, 1934, in Pancake, Texas, to Harold and T. B. Graves. He graduated from Valley Mills High School. After graduation he became the youngest person to become a certified welder by the State of Texas. On December 26, 1959, he married his soul mate Doris Weir. They shared 52 wonderful, happy years together. He was a welder on road and bridge construction, and worked for Rocketdyne in McGregor. He later owned and operated Graves Garage, first with his brother H.A., and later with his wife Doris for a total of 35 years. He was a member of the Valley Mills First Baqptist Church. Darel was preceded in death by a grandson, Nathan; his parents, Harold and T. B. Graves; and a sister, Billie Jean Graves. Left to cherish his memory is his devoted wife Doris, his daughters Susan Sellman and husband Steve, and Shirl Anderson and husband Shawn; his grandchildren Chase Hinton, Chance Hinton and Raylan Witten; and great-granddaughter Journi Hinton; sisters Haroldean Marrs and husband Jack, Ada Hamel and husband Elmo; brothers H. A. Graves and wife Dolores, Jim Graves and Valerie; one nephew, four nieces, three great nephews, two great nieces, and one great-great nephew. Darel will be remembered for his devotion and love for his family, his radiant smile, his wonderful mischievous sense of humor, and his strong faith in God, and his hobby of restoring old vehicles and tractors. A special thank you to Dr. Thomas Lundeen and Dr. Floyd Jernigan for their many years of care, Providence Hospital Third Floor nurses, and Providence Hospice. Memorials may be made to Fuzzy Friends, American Heart Association or Valley Mills First Baptist Church.