ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. 

Obituary for: GRABER, LAURA LEE PLANCHE 
 
Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. 

Source: Bagnell & Sons Funeral Home, Covington, La.

Died: Thursday, August 31, 2017

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GRABER, LAURA LEE PLANCHE 
	Died: Thu., Aug. 31, 2017

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Laura Lee Felicine Planche Graber was born in New Orleans on August 26, 1933, 
the only child of doting parents Laura Mae Kohnke and August John Planche, Jr.  
She spoke often of her happy childhood in Covington, Louisiana, where she 
maintained her parents' home and visited regularly until 2015.  She completed 
high school at Gulf Park College in Gulfport, Mississippi and then enrolled at 
LSU, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.  She later transferred to 
Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University, earned a bachelor's degree in 
education, and began a career as an elementary teacher in the public schools of 
New Orleans.

The course of Laura Lee's life changed in 1956 when she met Bill Graber, a 
Tulane Medical School senior.  Laura Lee and Bill were married in Covington on 
February 1, 1958 and lived in New Orleans and Dallas while Bill continued his 
medical training.  Laura Lee supported the couple as a teacher until the birth 
of their first child Vallette in 1961.  His training complete, Bill and Laura 
Lee moved to his hometown of Beaumont, Texas in 1962.  There the family grew 
with the arrival of sons Will in 1964 and Travis in 1968.  Laura Lee made her 
home with Bill in Beaumont until her death on August 31, 2017.

Laura Lee had a kind and gracious southern spirit.  She loved to laugh, 
particularly at herself.  As a devoted mother, she managed the intricacies of 
her children's complex schedules with an enthusiasm that confirmed her mantra:  
"Organization is the key to successful living."  She brought these organization 
skills to bear when she took over her father's real estate interests in 
Louisiana in the 1980s and took great pride in learning the history of each 
parcel and keeping her books current and complete.

In mid-life Laura Lee became an avid skier and enjoyed annual girls' trips to 
Colorado with her ski buddies.  She also had an artistic side.  She was an 
accomplished sculptor and life-long photographer, filling dozens of scrapbooks 
with images of her growing children and the places across the globe that she 
visited with Bill.

It was her commitment to Bill that shaped her life most.  She joined him in 
embracing many of his interests, learning to shoot skeet, hunt, and identify 
birds, all with great success.  She joined him on camping trips at Village 
Creek, Big Bend, Snowmass Wilderness, and the Green and Yukon rivers, to name 
but a few.  She loved attending Tulane reunions with him.  As she and Bill 
began to spend time in San Miguel de Allende, she even tried to learn Spanish 
at his suggestion, but for once without much success.

Laura Lee was a beautiful, vivacious, and affable lady, mother, and wife.  She 
will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Laura Lee is predeceased by her parents Laura Mae and August Planche, Jr.  She 
is survived by her husband of 59 years William James Graber, III of Beaumont; 
her three children and their spouses, Vallette Graber Windham and Russell 
Windham of Houston, William J. Graber, IV and Shannon Jenson Graber of The 
Woodlands, and Fred Travis Graber and Iris Steinebrunner of Dresden, Germany; 
and seven grandchildren, August Windham and Isabel Windham of Houston, 
Madelaine Graber, William J. Graber, V, Abigail Graber, and Andrew Graber of 
The Woodlands, and Alena Graber of Dresden.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, September 15 at First 
United Methodist Church, 701 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77701.  Immediately 
following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held at 
the church.  Graveside services will be held at 12:00 Noon the following day, 
Saturday, September 16 at Prairie Lea Cemetery, 508 S. Jackson Street, Brenham, 
Texas 77833, under the direction of Broussard's, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, 
Beaumont, Texas 77701, 409-832-1621.

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