Frederick Bruce Graves

Fred Graves, 88, was born in Tulsa, OK on August 29, 1929 and had his final curtain call on January 13, 2018 peacefully exiting this world stage to be home with his Lord and Savior. Fred was a legend in the Tulsa theatre community as a writer, actor and director, a tremendously positive influence on thousands of theatre students at the University of Tulsa and a giant whose impact continues to this moment. Fred spent over thirty years in the theatre acting and directing everything from Greek drama, Shakespeare, Chekhov, to Coward, Pinter, Simon, et al. He was a beloved cast member of Tulsa Little Theater for many years; and an outdoor performer in the Tulsa Shakespeare Festival. Fred wrote five plays and two musicals. As a professional playwright, Fred wrote the book and lyrics for "Girl with the Blues", an original musical comedy about the life of famous oil boom town blues singer Ruby Darby which he produced for the Tulsa stage in the 1970s. Fred also wrote a documentary titled, "Lynn Riggs, Oklahoma's Forgotten Playwright." Fred appeared in two feature films shot in Tulsa alongside actors John Carradine and Patrick Wayne: Blood Cult and The Revenge, and was cast in several other movies, including Rumble Fish, by S. E. Hinton. Fred was a familiar voice and face of many Tulsa radio and billboard advertisements including performing in a variety of Video/Film commercials for Florafax International; Getty Oil Co.; Tulsa Cable TV; Mazzio's Pizza, among others. He appeared in print media for Zebco Fishing Tackle; Fabricut; Sooner Savings and Loan; The Wall Street Journal, and others. His radio commercials included Fletcher's Original Country Fair Corny Dogs; Midwest Skyways; Southland Shopping Mall; and others. Fred performed in several Industrial and Instructional Films. Fred was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity at The University of Tulsa where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and earned a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. After graduation Fred moved to Berkley, California where he taught speech pathology and began private practice. He also practiced audiology and speech at the Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado; as well as Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Fred continued his practice after returning to his native Tulsa. After twelve years as a speech pathologist he listened to the little voices in his head, closed his practice, and became the Professor of Theatre and Speech at The University of Tulsa; a position he held for 22 years. Fred also directed and appeared alongside students in numerous TU theatre productions where his theatrical virtuosities flourished. In addition to theatre and speech he taught advanced graduate studies at TU including English Literature, Theatre, and Film. Fred not only cared passionately for and devoted himself to those who were his students, but as a lifelong member of Trinity Episcopal Church, he also spent years feeding and tending to the homeless by volunteering at Trinity's "Iron Gate Tulsa" � Tulsa's own Mother Teresa, and for all of us an incredible example and display of God's love flowing through his soul. Fred was an affable fellow; a stalwart friend; a considerate neighbor; a loving brother and cousin; a classic uncle who loved his nieces and nephews; and a purely charming soul who delighted entertaining children so much so that on numerous occasions he performed as a guest clown with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Fred's constant companions were his Pugs, first Percy then Pekoe, and a sassy kitty named Blanche DuBois. Fred knew all his neighbors and they he for over 65 years due in large part to his daily walks where he would meet and greet and converse with one and all. Fred's great-great grandfather, Philip Teare, came to America from the Isle of Man resulting in Fred becoming a member of the North American Manx Association. Fred was predeceased by his parents Frederick Daugherty Graves and Laura Belle Holmes, his brother Fr. Gerald "Jerry" Graves and sister-in-law Sallye (Grimes) Graves, nephew Gerald "Larry" Graves, and cousin, Robert Todd. Fred is survived by his beloved nieces and nephew, Jane Ferguson, Linda Maker and Mark Graves, all of California; his much-loved cousins, Don Todd, Margie Todd, Nancy Todd Shahadi, Peggy Todd Cluck, David Todd, Donna Todd Reynolds, her husband, Thomas Reynolds, and many other cherished cousins and friends. Celebration of Fred's life will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made in memory of Fred Graves to Trinity Episcopal Church 918-582-4128; or, Animal Rescue Foundation of Tulsa 918-622-5962. Please, send condolences or share memories at www.moorefuneral.com. Moore's Southlawn 918.663.2233.

Frederick Bruce Graves

August 29, 1929 - January 13, 2018