Fred Charles Graves

Fred Charles Graves

“Charles, a man of uncommon good nature and light in the eyes"

After a life of service to his family, friends, church, community and profession, F Charles Graves, 84, passed away at his home in North Salt Lake, surrounded by his adoring family & Christmas music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, on November 23, 2020, incident to the effects of Congestive Heart Failure – a literal broken heart.

Charles was born April 26, 1936, to Fred and Oree Herbert Graves, in Newry, South Carolina. He attended elementary school in South Carolina, and then his family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where he attended Franklin Elementary, Jordan Junior and West High School -where he graduated from in 1954. While at West High School, he fell in love with Gloria Annette Davis. The two were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on May 8, 1959. After & during their marriage, they made their home in various cities including; SLC, Utah; Aberdeen, Maryland; Manhattan, Bronxville, & Scarsdale, New York; then in 1991 moved back to Salt Lake City to be closer to extended family & friends. Charles facilitated many family reunions in the summer, and especially loved helping to plan and attend the Graves and Davis family Christmas celebrations. Charles loved the holiday season, especially Christmas.

He authored the book, The Little Evergreen from Spruce Ridge, a Christmas story that continues to bring warm and happy Christmas smiles to his family and more. Charles was a beloved and respected mentor to family, friends, business executives, students and professional colleagues. He rarely said he didn't have time to help a friend. He had a sense of wonder and was ever a learner and sharer. He was an accomplished communicator and was a sought - after speaker and presenter before national and international gatherings and was an experienced seminar instructor. He gave of himself generously to civic and professional activities.

Following his graduation from the University of Utah in 1961, he served two years in the U.S. Army in Colorado and Maryland. Annette joined him in Maryland where she worked for the U.S. Army Test & Evaluation Command. They moved to New York City where, Charles attended Teachers College, Columbia University, where he received both his masters of The Arts and doctorate of Education degrees. He thirsted on knowledge.
He was also a nationally and internationally recognized public relations counselor, executive coach and business leader. He was owner and president of Charles Graves Associates, a public relations counseling and executive coaching firm, based in Salt Lake City, formerly based in New York City. He was a communications and management counselor to upper management at some of this country and other countries ' leading
businesses.

While in New York he opened a Development Office for Brigham Young University and later opened an office for the Public Communications Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints. In 1979 he became President of Gilbert A. Robinson, Inc., a New York public relations firm. Concurrently with that position, in 1979-1980 he worked with the People's Republic of China, and was the National Executive Director of the 1980 Exhibition of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco, Chicago and New York. In that capacity he was Chief Operating Officer responsible for the organization, administration and implementation of the PRC's first successful national trade and cultural exhibition in the U.S.

Later, he was Chairman of The Haas Group, Inc., a New York public relations firm, and later was partner and Executive Vice President of Michael Klepper Associates, also a public relations firm in New York. In 1985 he returned to public relations counseling and formed Charles Graves Associates in New York; then moved the firm to Salt Lake City in 1991, where he worked & traveled for his business up until the year 2016.

He was the author of Public Relations: Strategies for Success, a course text for the American Management Association and was a contributor to the Public Relations Career Directory, 5th Edition. From 1980 to 2005 he had been a public relations seminar leader for the American Management Association. He had been CEO of AGSource Corporation and President of Beginnings and Endings both of Salt Lake City.

As a member of the National Advisory Committee of the Utah Symphony, he played a role in the Symphony's Carnegie Hall concerts in 1971 and 1974. He served on the committee sponsoring a Grant Johannesen concert at Lincoln Center's Philharmonic Hall in 1969 to raise funds for the New York Stake Center Building Fund. He was vice chairman of the New York committee to arrange for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir "Bicentennial Tour of the East " to perform at Carnegie Hall, July 1, 1976, and arrangements for a presentation of a bronze statue of George Washington to the Governor of New York, by LDS Church President, Spencer W. Kimball – his personal friend.

In 1990, The American Mothers, Inc., presented him with its Distinguished Service Award Citation for Outstanding Achievement and Service in American Mothers, Inc. He had served many years on the organization's Advisory Council.

He previously served as First Vice President and member of the Board of the International Radio and Television Foundation of New York; Member of the Board of Directors of Psychology Today; Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Science Digest; Member of the Board of Directors of Radio New York World Wide and WRFM in New York, A Bonneville Communications Company; Member of the Board of Directors of Laymen's National Bible Association; Member of the Advisory Council of American Mothers, Inc .; Trustee of the Repertory Dance Theatre of Salt Lake City; Member of the National Advisory Board of the Utah Symphony; Trustee of the American Indian Institute; Member of the Board of United Way of the Greater Salt Lake Area; Chairman of the Westchester (NY) Refugee Committee; Member of the Executive Committee of the National Council on Religion and Public Education; Member of the Board of Directors, Professional Secretaries International; Administrator at Teachers College, Columbia University; Adjunct Professor of Communications at Brigham Young University; an Emeritus Member, National Advisory Council, School of Management, Brigham Young University; member of the board of The CareSource Charitable Foundation of Salt Lake City; and, he was a Life Member of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, and for a period of time served on their Editorial Advisory Board. The Most important service to him was being an active and devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter – day Saints. Throughout his life he tirelessly and without complaint served in numerous Church callings, including; as a full-time missionary in the Eastern States Mission from 1956 to 1958, then in Maryland, New York City, Westchester County, and Salt Lake City - he was patriarch of the SLC Stake, counselor in stake presidency, counselor in bishopric, counselor to three full time mission presidents, high councilor, stake mission president, stake executive secretary, assistant high priest group leader, ward mission leader and teacher. He considered his callings an honor & privilege.

Charles was happiest when he was with his family and in pleasant conversation with friends – sharing stories & laughing, especially. Though he had traveled through many parts of the world, his favorite destination was his home, to his sweetheart Annette, his children and their families, grandchildren, & great grand girls. He enjoyed the many hours he spent in yards & gardens. He loved baseball, Jazz, fine art, performing arts, cooking, holidays, comic strips, studying new things, gospel doctrine and so much more.

Charles deeply loved and in turn beloved by his family and many friends whom he served unselfishly. He put others before himself. His unique style of approaching life with integrity and enthusiasm was motivating to all who knew him. He was unfailingly decent. His unpretentious manner and genuine interest in people and matters of substance, made those of high and lowly station comfortable in his company. He loved people and maintained continuing friendships around the world. One of his business associates said that " He was a friend that everybody would like to have. " And from another close associate: " He was a friend beyond measure who left indelible marks upon those who were fortunate enough to have known him." He leaves an example of love, friendship, loyalty, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, patience, optimism, integrity, service, hard work, resolve, wit and humor for his family to follow.

He is survived by his three children, James R.(Kimbirlee) of Farmington, UT, Aaron W. (April) of Bountiful, UT, and Jennifer Valeen Graves, of Bountiful, UT; grandchildren Taylor Sierra (John) Cook, Abigail Danielle Madeiros, Ammon Michael Cheney, Zachary Bradford Graves,Jordan Gideon Cheney, Savannah McKay Cheney, Spencer Alan Graves, Keegan Brianne Cheney, Whitney Ann Graves, Cassidy Alexis Cheney, Clarissa Helene Cheney, Brannigan Teancum Cheney, Jack Tyler Maynes, Sarah Elizabeth Graves; great grandchildren Lillie Oree Cook, Kylan John Madeiros, Blake Ryan Madeiros, Ellsie Clara Cook; and many extended beloved family & friends.

Fred Charles was preceded in death by his loving & steadfast wife Annette, his parents, his sister, Bernice & her husband Robert L. Black of Salt Lake City, his brother Joseph Talmadge & his first wife Diane, his sister Virginia W. & her husband Grover Hawkins, and so many in-laws and dear friends.

Our family wishes to extend a special thank you to his granddaughter Taylor & John Cook & their children Lillie & Ellsie for living with & caring for Gpa/Papa for so many years. Thank you to Quality Home Health & Hospice Care for your attentive kindness & compassion, and thank to the numerous Physicians, Nurses, CNA’s, any & all staff @ the varying hospitals and care facilities he was treated at during his life.

Funeral services were held on Friday November 27, 2020 at Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery. Interment at Larkin Sunset Lawn 2350 E 1300 S Salt Lake City, UT 84108

In Lieu of flowers, please make any desired contribution to the following - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Perpetual Education Fund *Link below*

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/self-reliance/pef-perpetual-education-fund?lang=eng

Those who knew him will remember him and smile. What's lost to the world is a man who cared and who lived a useful life. We will miss his attentive care. "The day is finally going home.”