Bernard "Bernie" Graham

Bernard “Bernie” Joseph Graham, 89, long-time resident of Highlands Ranch, CO, went to be with his heavenly father on February 4, 2019. He lived at the Morningstar Senior Living Center in Lone Tree, CO at the time of his passing. He was born on July 20, 1929 in Chicago, IL to George Dudley Graham and Maude Love Graham. Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, George and Maude Graham, older half-sister Mary Jane Cruickshank, older brother George Dudley Graham Jr, wife Ann Bernice Graham, and his beloved cousin Thelma Jane Young, who he grew up with and lovingly referred to as his sister. Bernie is survived by his four children: Scott Graham (Marcy), Holly Williams (Miles), Sandy Pearce (Brad), and Wendy Graham (Eric), six grandchildren: Sara (David), Rob, Jane (John), Clint (Brittany), Brittany (Brian), Chase, and five great grandchildren: Annika, Emeline, David Jr, Everett, Conrad. Bernie grew up in Buffalo, NY, then went to Clemson University in South Carolina on a football scholarship. After graduating, he served four years in the US Army during the Korean War. He met the love of his live, Ann Harmon in Corry, PA after being introduced to her by his older brother George. Bernie and Ann married on March 28, 1952 at Ann’s grandfather’s house in Boca Raton, FL. Bernie started his career as an entrepreneur, building and managing a Dairy Queen from the ground up in Corry, PA. As fate would have it, one day a customer approached him about a sales job at 3M, and the rest was history. Bernie’s highly successful 35-year career at 3M started in Cleveland, OH, with moves to Minneapolis, MN, Philadelphia, PA, and Austin, TX. He rose to the position of 3M Sales Director of the Electronic Product Division before retiring in 1991. After retiring, Bernie and Ann moved from Austin, TX to Highlands Ranch, CO in 1993, where they lived the rest of their lives. Bernie made friends instantly where ever he went, and people were drawn to his magnetic personality. He loved his family, football, golfing, camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, growing flowers, and singing in the church choir.