Imogene Thompson Graham Kennedy died October 11, 2017 in Sparks, Nevada at the age of 93.
Imogene was born in 1924 in Colony, Oklahoma, the fifth of seven children born to Bertha Burleson Thompson and Grover Cleveland Thompson.
Imogene’s family left Oklahoma during the dust bowl era of the great depression and settled in the central valley of California where Imogene met Raymond Ray Graham. Imogene and Ray were married in Las Vegas in 1942 and lived there for a short time while Ray worked on the construction of Hoover Dam. Shortly after their marriage, Ray was drafted into the Army and was shipped overseas where he would be awarded the Bronze Star for bravery on the front lines of German. When Ray was still in Germany, Imogene gave birth to their daughter Sharon Frances Graham.
After the war the Graham family returned to California where their son Larry Ray Graham was born. After Ray’s untimely death in 1961, Imogene moved to Sacramento, California where she would reside for the next fifty years.
In Sacramento Imogene met Theodore Lyman Kennedy and in 1968 Ted and Imogene were married in Reno, Nevada. Because Ted was an avid golfer, Imogene learned to play golf and the two traveled the U.S. in their motor home visiting golf courses along the way, spending winters in Palm Springs and making several trips to Alaska to visit their daughter and grandchildren.
After Ted’s death in 1990, Imogene remained in Sacramento. She continued her love of travel and enjoyed several cruises and travel by air to visit places from Hawaii to Alaska.
During her later years, Imogene became active in the Western Swing Society and loved attending their monthly dances. Imogene also enjoyed the arts and crafts classes at the senior center near her home.
In 2014 Imogene moved to Winnemucca, Nevada to be near her daughter and in 2015 moved to Sparks, Nevada where she resided until her death.
Imogene was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers: Lowell Thompson, John Crockett Thompson, Grover C. Thompson, Jr. and her sister Nadine Thompson Phillips, her husband Ray Graham, her son Larry Graham and her husband Theodore L. Kennedy.
Imogene is survived by: her daughter Sharon Graham (Greg) Close of Winnemucca, Nevada, granddaughter Laura Close (Scott) Gustaff of Lake Oswego, Oregon, grandson Gregory Graham Close (Becky) of Portland, Oregon, her great grandchildren: Madeline Drew Close of Portland, Oregon, Alyssa Ayn Gustaff, Tylen Graham Gustaff, and Dylan Nadine Gustaff all of Lake Oswego, Oregon. Imogene is also survived by sister Cleeta Thompson McCormick of California and brother Calvin L Thompson of Texas. Imogene is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Imogene will always be remembered for her quiet demeanor, her bright blue eyes and her steely determination. There will be a private family celebration of life at a later date.
