Geneva Pearl (Amen) Graber

Geneva “Neva” Pearl (Amen) Graber passed peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Hospice House in Spokane at the age of 90.

She was born on Aug. 17, 1922, to Henry and Emma (Luiten) Amen on the family farm in Ritzville, where she lived most of her life.

She graduated from Ritzville High School in 1940 and married the love of her life, Jess A. Graber on June 24, 1940.

She excelled in music, playing the alto saxophone in dance bands as well as performing at the Fox Theater in 1939 when she was a senior in high school. She and her husband Jess often played duets on the piano and organ, and she loved playing piano during sing-a-longs with family and friends. She dearly loved her family, friends, children, dogs, and above all was devoted to her faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband on Dec. 15, 1999.

She is survived by daughter, Bonnie (Gene) Heimbigner of Spokane; son, Max (Val) Graber of Wenatchee; granddaughters, Debbie (Mike) West of Spokane Valley and Rosie Richardson of Spokane; three great-grandchildren, Alexis Richardson and twin boys, Evan and Dean West; three step-grandchildren, Corey Millard, Robin Jingjit and Steve Breeze; and five step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held in Spokane earlier this week. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to be made to Hospice of Spokane, P.O. Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210-2215, http://www.hospiceofspokane.org.