Maureen Rae King Graham (MoMo), 90, passed away on October 30, 2022, at The Lodge in Fayette, Missouri. 

Maureen was born to Virginia Alice Forbes King and Harold Leroy King on April 21, 1932, in Crawford, Nebraska. She grew up among the Cheyenne Buttes and forever called them home. She met her husband-to-be, Dale, on a blind date at the University of Nebraska, where she was a Kappa Delta. She graduated from the University with a bachelor’s degree in History Education. They were married in Crawford in the middle of a blizzard on March 3, 1953. They eventually settled in Harrison, Nebraska, and had two children, Thomas and Diann. They moved to Missouri and finally settled in Fayette, Missouri, in 1963. She started teaching history in the Fayette School District. Maureen dedicated her career to educating high school students in U.S. history, including Civil War History, Frontier History, and Minority Studies for the first time in the history of Fayette High School. She obtained her MSED from the University of Missouri in 1981. At that time, she left teaching history and became the Special Services Director at Fayette School District, where she championed to provide special needs children the tools to obtain the educations they deserved. She retired from education in 1998.

In her spare time, she enjoyed fishing. It was her Zen space. Many of you probably saw her paddling her canoe around Davis Lake west of Fayette. After she and Dale retired, they purchased a property with a lake near Hungry Mother Conservation Area. It was the best place to take her granddaughters, Amy, Jessica, and Katie, to teach them how to fish when not fighting off the ticks. She and Dale traveled and enjoyed seeing the country in an RV during retirement. 

She was the best MoMo to her granddaughters. She never missed a grandparent’s day, concert, or sporting event, even though it was a three-hour drive. She was present for every state music event and state athletic event. She was an advocate and fought hard for them. She was so proud of all of their accomplishments in school and as adults. 

There has never been and will never be a better Mrs. Claus than Maureen. Not only did she go overboard at Christmas for her family, but she also provided many Secret Santa Christmases for kids who wouldn’t have Christmas without her. 

She was famous for her fried chicken, Grandma King’s chocolate cake, and Christmas cut out sugar cookies. 

Maureen loved her Boston Terriers and always had a place in her recliner next to her for them.

Maureen is preceded in death by her husband Dale, mother Peg (Virginia), father Harold, brothers Gaylon and Harold King, and nephew Bruce King.

She is survived by her brother Ken King, Dana Point, California; son Tom Graham, Fayette, Missouri; daughter Diann Graham, Godbey, Grandview, Missouri; three granddaughters, Amy Dearking, Omaha, Nebraska, Jessica Johnson, Dearborn, Missouri and Katherine Londono, Kansas City, Missouri; her loving dog, Jenny Graham, of the home; four great-grandsons, Monico Johnson, Dearborn, Missouri, Derek Dearking, Omaha, Nebraska, Elijah Johnson, Dearborn, Missouri, and Andrew Dearking, Omaha, Nebraska; one great-great-granddaughter, Elowen Johnson Dearborn, Missouri; niece Julie Shaffer, Loveland, Colorado; nephew Alan King, Denver Colorado; niece Tamara Von Felt Lochbuie, Colorado; nephew Scott King, Denver, Colorado; and nephew Steve King, Erie, Colorado. She is also survived by those who called her their wicked step-mother, Alice Carson Snodgrass, Carl Junction, Missouri; and Roberta Carson Webster, Columbia, Missouri; Amanda Judy of Carl Junction, Missouri; and Robert Snodgrass, Springfield, Missouri.

Special thanks and a debt of gratitude to Regina Powell and Wilma Logan for their loving care they provided over the last several years. Thanks to The Lodge for providing a peaceful end to this special life.

A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date. 

Memorial contributions are suggested to the CMU Band Department, in care of Friemonth-Freese Funeral Service, 174 Hwy. 5 & 240 N., Fayette, Mo. 65248.