Johnny Lee Graham

Johnny Lee Graham was born Dec. 21 1957 to Arthur and Betty Graham. He passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones in his home in Camas Prairie on Dec. 10, 2022.

He was born in Burnt Ranch CA and moved to the Graham Ranch in Big Bar, Calif., November of 1958 where he spent most of his life. John met Patricia in 1992 where they became fast friends, with so much in common they ended up falling in love and marrying October 8th 1994. He brought his charm, liveliness and three kids with him and she brought her sass, adventurousness, and two kids with her. In 2004 John was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and fought for four years before he was blessed with a second chance at life with a new liver on March 28, 2008.

He moved to Hot Springs in 2015 where he and Patricia opened a café in 2017.

John loved people, music, cars and conversation. You could always find him whistling a tune or singing a jingle. He worked many jobs but is probably known more for his love of cars and his ability to fix just about anything. He always said there was a right way to do things and an affordable way to do things and had never been a rich man.

John was proceeded in death by his sister Nancy (1987), his father Arthur (1995), his mother Betty (2004), his brother Danny (2018) and his wife Patricia (2020)

Johnny is survived by his children and their spouses Angela Gabler and William, Brian and Kari Graham, Josh and Crystal Graham, Carlene Gabler, Tanya and Brian Theademan, his 31 grandchildren, his brother Calvin Graham and his sister Audrey Graham and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

His celebration of life will be held the end of January or the beginning of February to assure his children will all be able to be here. His final request was to be able to go out like a true Cowboy fully dressed with his boots on so in true Big John fashion here is a Cowboys prayer

Cowboy Prayer Our Heavenly Father, we pause at this time,
mindful of the many blessings you have bestowed upon us.
We ask, Lord, that you will be with us in the arena of life.


We as cowboys do not ask for special favors.
We don't ask to draw around the chute fighting horse, the steer that won't lay,

or to never break the barrier.
We don't even ask for all daylight runs.

 We do ask Lord, that you will help us live our lives here on earth as cowboys, in such a manner, that when we make that last inevitable ride, to the country up there, where the grass grows lush, green, and stirrup high, and the water runs cool, clear, and deep, that you'll take us by the hand and say - 

 "Welcome to Heaven cowboy, your entry fees are paid."