Gloria Graham Gloria Elizabeth (nee Sherlund) Graham, 52, of Alpena, died Thursday, July 3, 2008, at Alpena General Hospital.

She was born May 13, 1956, in Sault Ste. Marie.

Mrs. Graham grew up in Cedarville, and was graduated from Cedarville schools in 1974, and attended Lake Superior State College, now Lake Superior State University.

She married Gary Duane Graham October 20, 1979, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Cedarville and, except for three years in Ann Arbor, they have made their home in Alpena. For 15 years, she worked for the Alpena Public Schools as an educational aide at Ella White Elementary School. She was a member of the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Mrs. Graham enjoyed basketball, hockey, bowling, and volleyball, playing as well as watching her children, who were active in many sports in Alpena schools and in college. She was like a second mother to five of her nieces and nephews, to whom she opened her home while they were students and athletes at Alpena Community College. The time she spent with her siblings and their families at the cabin on the lake in Cedarville was precious to her, friends said.

She is survived by her husband, Gary; two daughters, Erin Graham of Venice, Florida, and Lori Graham of Olivet, and one son, Kevin Graham of Alpena. She is also survived by her father, Rudolph August Sherlund of Cedarville, four siblings and their families, Rosemary and Mark McPherson of Howell and Cedarville, Beverley and William Tuori of Galena, Illinois, and Dafter, Russell and Susan Sherlund, and Lyle and Sharon Sherlund, all of Cedarville, and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Graham was preceded in death by her mother, Opal Elizabeth (nee Harrison) Sherlund.

Services were held in Alpena Sunday, July 6, at 6 p.m. at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. Additional services were held in Cedarville Monday, July 7, at Bethel Lutheran Church. Visitation was from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, with a service at 3 p.m., followed by burial in Bethel Cemetery in Pickford.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, Texas 75244.

Reamer Galer Funeral Home in Pickford assisted the family with arrangements.