Virginia "Vicky" Graves

Virginia “Vicky”  Graves of Ketchum passed away at the Cove of Cascadia in Bellevue, Idaho on September 18, 2023, a few months shy of her 95th Birthday. She enjoyed living in the Ketchum and Sun Valley area for over 71 years. 

Born December 11th, 1928 in Pocatello, Idaho, Vicky was the only child of Porter and Pearl Munn Graves where she enjoyed her childhood on adventures with Catherine Munn Harrison riding horses and camping near Henry’s Lake, skiing at Skyline ski resort and an occasional trip up to see Sun Valley. 

She graduated in 1951 from Idaho State University in Pocatello as the first female in Idaho to obtain a Pharmacy degree. She followed Cathy to Sun Valley in 1953 where she was hired for the Sun Valley Gift Shop Pharmacy position and managed the drug store until she retired. She always had a welcome smile for anyone (especially the local kids) who entered the store. When she retired the Union Pacific railroad provided her a lifetime ski pass and the Janss Corp who owned the resort then also agreed to the offer. 

Vicky was a very adventurous woman and along with her longtime friend Beverly Stapleton they fished, hunted big game and birds, competed in Sun Valley trapshooting events like the Shoshone Indian final competition always held at the Sun Valley gun club. She had a cabin in Stanley for many years, where she would sometimes allow her nephews and niece to visit, if they were on their best behavior! Vicky was one of the original founding members of the Ketchum Wagon Days celebration and she often rode her big red horse in the early parades. In 2006 she was honored to be chosen as the Grand Marshal in which she officiated in “Grand” style! She owned a green, late 20s Ford truck named “Sweet Pea” that she drove in the motorized Wagon Days parades of the 60s. 

After her professional life she really ramped up the fun in retirement. She and Beverly spearheaded the effort to retain and create the Ketchum Forest Service Park and Museum, where we all enjoy concerts and festivities to this day. Many camping trips to Yellowstone to search for game were enjoyed too. Vicky enjoyed bartending down the street, from her River Street home of 37 years, at the Brother Jake’s Hopshed known as River Street Retreat. She assisted with score keeping for the Atkinson’s Park Ketchum Co-ed Softball League, after a time playing on the Nedder’s Belles softball team that competed on the SV diamond near the Inn Pool many years before. Vicky was part of a group of women known as the “Trolls” that worked for a holiday service that decorated trees in the Sun Valley area. Can you imagine how, on the phone, she talked her way out of having the Sun Valley police respond to the alarm the trolls mistakenly set off in the Bank near the Opera House by saying; oh we are just some trolls decorating the bank lobby Christmas tree! She was a charter member of the Sun Valley LPGA (Ladies Plastered Golf Association) that would take a fun bus to Jackpot for “tournaments” and what fun it was! Vicky and a special group of friends also enjoyed a yearly river raft trip on the Colorado River that they called the “Float and Bloat” trip. Many stories and much fun was had. 

Vicky was loved by everyone who met her and her memory will be forever held close to our minds and hearts. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Porterfield and Pearl Blanche Graves, Catherine Munn Harrison and brother-in-law John Landers Harrison and long time friend Beverly Ann Stapleton. 
Mourning her passing are nephews and niece Steve (Kathy) Harrison, Karen (Kerry) Christiansen, Scott Harrison and Doug Harrison and numerous great nieces and nephews. A huge circle of friends will also miss her. 

If you count yourself lucky enough to have known Vicky please join us for funeral mass and celebration to be held on Friday, September 29th at 11:00AM at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Ketchum. A reception will follow in the Church’s Parish Hall. Burial will be in the Ketchum Cemetery. 

Memorials are suggested to Atkinsons’ Park and Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church.