David Lee Graham

David Lee Graham, our bighearted, agile limbed Dave, gracefully eased his way out of this world on July 3, 2015 at 67 years of age after a two and a half year battle with pancreatic cancer. Dave was born on May 1, 1948, the only child of Bob and Harriett Graham of Tumwater, Washington. From the time he was a little kid, Dave had the start of a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes, ready to play and go for the gusto, wherever that took him. In 1977, Dave started Rain Barrel Seamless Gutter Co. and he later became a specialist in creative architectural sheet metal work. In 1983, he married his beloved Martha at her parents’ beach house in Puako, Hawaii. They had one son, Judd. Whether meeting up with an old friend or making a new one, Dave lit up like sunshine. He flexed at the knees and led with his heart, a fellow who lived his life within circles upon circles of friends from all corners of the world. Hosting with Martha, Judd, and neighbors, their Henderson Inlet beach parties were the highlight of a summer. In 1975, David became enthralled with Tai Chi Quan, which he continued practicing for the rest of his life. He loved sailing and was an avid snow skier until an accident forced him to quit. It was that turning point that led him wholeheartedly into his Tai Chi and Qigong practice. He enjoyed traveling to different workshops to further his training and looked forward to his annual intensive ten-day training camp each spring with his Tai Chi master in Grand Junction, Colorado, where his circle of friends expanded. He practiced daily and taught weekly classes at his barn studio and, up until recently, he also taught thru Lacey Parks and Rec. David enjoyed his Black Lake property where he could space out, bringing ideas to life with metal and wood. He loved to start projects (but did not always finish them – his shop usually looked as though a tornado had just blown thru). He loved his Kerbaugh property and was just happy being in the forest or at the beach. Dave was outgoing and gregarious, yet could also be sarcastic and quick witted to the point of being almost embarrassing, but was one hundred percent good natured and supportive. Dave is survived by his wife, Martha; son, Judd; daughter, Melissa Ellis; grandchild, Andrew Yuasa; and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. David’s son, Aaron, and his parents preceded him in death. The family requests memorial donations go to UW Medicine Advancement in order to directly further research into curing pancreatic cancer. Make checks payable to UW Foundation with a note that the donation is for David Graham-Pancreatic Cancer Research/65-3530, and mail donations to UW Medicine Advancement, Attn: Tyrone Jimmison, Box 358045, Seattle, WA 98195-8045. Online donations may be made at http://depts.washington.edu/givemed/give/?source=GICRFD. Please leave memories of David or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.