Janet Marie Graves

Janet Marie Barenscher Graves, 79, of Oriental, passed away at Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, on Saturday, January 20, 2018, after a lengthy, brave battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Jan was born to Otta and Hazel Barenscher on July 25, 1938, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BS degree in Medical Technology. Jan relocated to Colorado where she was a member of the Genesee Volunteer Fire Department and a Paramedic with the Highland Rescue Squad. In 1994, Jan moved to Oriental with her fiance’ William D. Graves III and joined the Oriental Woman’s Club and Ladies of the Neuse.

Left to remember her love and to honor Jan are her beloved husband of 34 years, William D. Graves III; two children, Krista Watts and Bill Zillmann; from her first marriage to Richard D. Zillmann; four grandchildren, Garrett Watts, Zachery Zillmann, Morgan Zillmann, Madison Zillmann; and her three Boston Terriers.

Jan loved the outdoors as well as working out at Village Health and Fitness. She was an accomplished runner and equestrian, and enjoyed sailing, birdwatching, skiing and camping, almost anything that nature had to offer. Jan was an avid reader, naturalist and enjoyed pencil sketching in Ocracoke, NC. She truly loved life and being part of it.

Family, friends and others whose lives Jan touched are invited to a visitation at Bryant Funeral Home, 52 Bryant St., Alliance, between 3:00 – 4:00 pm on Saturday, January 27th. Her extended family will be celebrating her life with an ash scattering ceremony on Ocracoke in June where they spent many yearly vacations together.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to P.A.W.S., P.O. Box 888, Oriental, NC 28571 or the Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern NC Chapter, 3739 National Dr., Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27612.