PLATTSBURGH- Patricia C. McGraw, age 94, passed away on October 31, 2022 at CVPH Medical Center.  Born in Biddeford, Maine, on Jan. 25, 1928, Pat was the daughter of Rev. Theodore and Ruth Kellogg Cooley.  She graduated from Norwalk High School, Norwalk, CT in 1946 and from Oberlin College in 1950 with a degree in Music Education.  At Oberlin, Pat met James McGraw, whom she married on June 30, 1951.  They lived in Columbus, OH while her husband earned his masters and doctorate in Zoology at Ohio State University.  Jim accepted a Biology professorship at Plattsburgh State University College.  Pat earned an MS in Elementary Education from PSUC and taught 2nd grade at Chazy Central Rural School for 22 years.  Pat loved the eagerness of her students to learn, and they, in turn, loved her creative lessons that encouraged their personal growth.  To this day many of her former students recall singing in class as Mrs. McGraw played the piano.  She was active in the First Presbyterian Church in Plattsburgh as elder and deacon.  Pat was church organist for 3 years, and enjoyed singing in the choir for many years.  Her musical contributions included performing the challenging classical piece, Handel's Messiah, on the Presbyterian church pipe organ with full choir.

Pat and her husband loved the out-of-doors, especially sailing on Lake Champlain in the summer and skiing in the winter.  They traveled abroad and throughout the American West.

Pat was predeceased by her husband Jim, and is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, David and Jody McGraw of Williston, VT, Jim and Ann McGraw of Morgantown, WV, and Kevin and Laurie McGraw of Boulder, CO.; also, seven grandchildren - Erin Piotrowski, Kara Douglas, Chelsea Pauga, and Colin, Ian, Trevor, and Caitlin McGraw, and great grandchildren Otis, Blake, and Shyanne Piotrowski, Avalee, and Stella Douglas, Liya and Reiya McGraw, and Bodhi McGraw.

A Memorial Service is being planned for a later date.  Donations in her memory may be made to the Music Fund of the First Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements have been entrusted into the care of the R.W. Walker Funeral Home 69 Court Street, Plattsburgh, NY.