B.L. “Mutt” Graham

B.L. “Mutt” Graham, 85, died Tuesday, August 14, 2007 in Clarendon, Texas.

Services with Firefighter Honors were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 18, 2007, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Darrell Burton, Odyssey Hospice Chaplain, officiating. Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Mutt was born March 11, 1922, to Luke and Lola Statser Graham in Crowell, Texas. He married Juanita “Nita” Mabery on June 2, 1941, in Wheeler. Mutt began his cooking career in the US Navy in World War II. He and his wife Nita opened their own café, Mutt’s Café in Clarendon in 1947, which they owned and operated for 34 years. He was a member of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department for 60 years and served as Chief from 1957 until 1963. He also held other ranks and served in various offices throughout his career with the Department. He was a volunteer ambulance driver for the Clarendon EMS for several years. A very busy man, Mutt was also a former Mayor of Clarendon and was a former recipient of the Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year Award. He was a member of the Moose Lodge, Masonic Lodge #700, and the VFW. Mutt, along with Billy Jack Land and Maurice Hart, organized the Clarendon Little League program in the 1950s. He was a devoted husband for 66 years, a wonderful father of two, a dearly loved grandfather and great grandfather, a precious brother and uncle to many. To know Mutt was to love him. He was one of the beautiful people who walked among us and had no idea that he was so special to so many.

Mr. Graham was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Earl Graham and Billy Graham.

Survivors include his wife Nita of Clarendon; one daughter, Carol King of Spring; one son, Ted Graham of Clarendon; two sisters, Nella Hix of Colorado and Mary Hendley of McLean; one brother, Pete Graham of Tucumcari, NM; four grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

The family requests memorials be to Odyssey Hospice or Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo.