Nettie Boyer Graff

Nettie (Calandro) Boyer Graff, 98, formerly of Murphysboro, died on the morning of Monday, December 12, 2016, at her daughter's home in Shelbyville, Kentucky. She was born in Murphysboro, Illinois on March 29, 1918 to Andrew & Frances (Schiro) Calandro. Nettie married Ernest B. Boyer on February 5, 1944, in Portsmouth, Virginia while Ernest was in the Navy. He died on March 17, 1984. On April 16, 1988, she married Fred Graff and they were married until Fred's death on June 5, 2005. Nettie was one of ten children and attended St. Andrew's grade school. At the age of 14 she went to work at the Brown Shoe Company. As a young lady, she & her sister, Josie, sang & yodeled on a Saturday afternoon radio program on WJPF in Herrin, Illinois, while playing a guitar. She & Josie also played on the Brown Shoe softball team. After she was married, Nettie got a job as a chauffeur on the Navy Base in Portsmouth. When Ernie was stationed in New York, she worked at the Army base where she drove tractors & forklifts. She also worked at a shoe factory in New York. Upon returning to Murphysboro, Ernie & Nettie had four children. Nettie was a 4-H leader and coach for the 4-H softball team for her three daughters for 22 years. She drove neighborhood children to school and was active in the parent-teacher association as well as Boy Scouts and Little League for her son and bowled in a league for many years. Nettie was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church, a member of the St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary, for over fifty years a member of the V.F.W. Post # 7190 Ladies Auxiliary, for over fifty years a member of the American Legion Post # 127 Ladies Auxiliary, and a member of the Rural Mail Carriers Association. She was a volunteer aide at St. Joseph's Hospital snack bar, was a reader for her church & a member of the church choir & St. Andrew's Altar Society. She served as President of the Senior Citizens for a while she organized performances for the Sr. Citizen's kitchen band. She also served as the volunteer receptionist at the Murphysboro Senior Center on Thursday mornings to arrange transportation for seniors. For many years, she wrote a newspaper column for the "Murphysboro American" entitled, "News from Nettie." She was a stay-at-home Mom when her children were little; she worked part-time on occasion at the Elks Club, V.F.W. and Rendezvous as a waitress & as a cook at the American Legion. For a short time, Nettie & Ernie had a business called "Boyer Laminating" and sold Raleigh products. When her children were grown, she worked as a rural mail carrier for ten years at the United States Postal Service. Nettie loved to play cards and BINGO and when she was young, she said she would rather dance than eat. She was recognized as "Alumni of the Year" at St. Andrew's in 2008. In 2012, Nettie was inducted into the Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame. Survivors include three daughters: Frances (Neil) Welters & Patti (Dennis) Daniels of Springfield, IL, Linda (Terry) Lingle of Shelbyville, KY as well as a son, Robert (Bob) Boyer of Annapolis, MO; Seven grandsons: Scott (Michelle) Stevens of Murphysboro, Derek (Debby) Daniels of Chicago, Robert (Andy) Boyer of Springfield, IL, Kyle (Kendra) Daniels of Springfield, IL, Ryan (Jen) Daniels of Vernon Hills, IL, Brent Lingle (Stephanie) of Georgetown, KY, Todd (Cindy) Daniels of New Berlin, IL; ten great-grandchildren, two step great grandchildren, and three step great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Ernest Boyer & Fred Graff; all her siblings including Christine, Earl, Myrtle, Angeline, Nick, Clara, Josie, Joe & Pauline, two infant brothers, as well as one grandson, Bryce Lingle, of Kentucky and one great-granddaughter, Sophia Louise Daniels. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 16, 2016, at St. Andrew Catholic Church with Father Gary Gummersheimer officiating and burial at St. Andrew Cemetery. Visitation and a celebration of her life will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday until 9:45 a.m. Friday at Pettett Funeral Home. The rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Andrew Church or St. Andrew School. For more information, please visit www.pettettfuneralhome.com.

Nettie Boyer Graff

March 29, 1918 - December 12, 2016