Maureen Ann Graves
Maureen Ann Graves Obituary
On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, Maureen Ann Graves passed away peacefully with her husband, children, and grandchildren by her side. Born in Sioux City, Iowa on July 10, 1946, Maureen was the first girl, and fourth child of six. Her parents, Jack and Elizabeth (St. George) Dryden preceded her in death.
Maureen was raised in South Sioux City, Nebraska, and graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1964. On October 9, 1965, Maureen married the love of her life, Tom Graves, having been married 59 years. They were together from the age of eight, dating back to Thacker skating rink and the State Theater.
Maureen began work at AT&T phone company in 1965, leaving a few years later to raise their two children. She also helped raise her sister, nephews, cousins, and their friends. Her door was always open to give love and support to her kids and all of their friends.
As her children grew up, Maureen started her career in counseling. She became certified as a motivational coach, hypnotherapist, and professional assistant. She began her career as a volunteer co-facilitator with Siouxland Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in 1976, and became a counselor in 1979. From 1979 to 1982, Maureen and Tom, also a counselor, attended the Worldwide Marriage Encounter in Nebraska, where they were an executive team couple. To further her skills, she attended a yearlong program at the Gestalt Institute of Iowa, from which she graduated in 1980.
In 1981, Maureen co-founded New Hope Alcohol and Addiction Center with Connie Spain, where she worked as a counselor until 1998. During this period, she also worked as a consultant for St. Luke’s Hospital’s addiction center, and opened her own private practice. In 1998, Maureen began work as a Reiki practitioner and spirituality consultant.
In 1986 and 1987, she trained with Virginia Satir at Crested Butte, Colorado, completing levels one and two in month long sessions. She also attended Virginia’s workshops in Chicago and Santa Barbara, California. Greatly inspired by Virginia’s pioneering counseling methods, and having received a personal invitation from Virginia to become a trainer, she served in that capacity for the Virginia Satir International Training Institute for a number of years. Maureen has been an active member of the Virginia Satir Global Network since 1986, where she served as president from 2008 to 2010. She was also active as a co-leader of the Satir Family Camp from 1992-2020. Maureen was also a founding member of the Moscow Institute for Professional Development of Psychologists and Social Workers.
In 2012, Maureen received the Virginia Satir Living Treasure award for her unique and significant contribution to the Satir Global mission through her long tenure on the board, leadership of the Satir Family Camp, and her extension of Virginia’s teaching internationally. She was part of the first Satir Family Camp in Moscow in 1990. She participated in training workshops in Hong Kong in 2007, 2010, and 2012, and also in Thailand in 2011, 2012, and 2013. These workshops were presented in conjunction with Sharon Loeschen, Laura Dodson, Gundolf Strehl, and Margarita Suarez, who were also part of the Satir Global faculty.
Maureen was also active in her local community, serving on the Avanta Faculty Governing Council from 1994 to 2008. For excellence in her career, she was recognized by inclusion in such publications as Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who of American Women, and Who’s Who in the World.
Maureen is survived by her husband Tom Graves, son Mike Graves, granddaughter Jenna Nohr and husband Christian, three great- grandsons Brooks, Vinny and Tate Nohr, grandson Shane Graves and wife Jess, granddaughter Lauren Sanchez and husband Kohl, daughter Lorrie Akins and husband Ed, grandson Nick Akins and Lea Parker, granddaughter Natalie Stroman and husband Joel, sister-in-law Sharon Nelson and husband Dennis, nephews Steve Nelson and wife Kim, and Jeff Nelson and wife Kelly, brother Jim Dryden and wife Terri, nephew Rob Dryden and wife Laurie, sister Debbie Isaacson, niece Heather Albert and husband Jesse, and Jaden, Laney and Jaxon Albert, niece Ashley Isaacson, sister-in-laws Patricia Dryden, and Dana and Scott, and Paula Dryden, and Heather, Justin, Cody, Tiffany, and Michael, and numerous great nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by three brothers, David Dee Dryden, Jack Dryden, and Rick Dryden, nephew Shane Dryden, great nephew Stephen Foster, and baby Jackson Nicholas Albert.
We would like to thank Shea Post Acute Rehabilitation Center for their genuine, tender loving care for Maureen during her last days and weeks of life. They truly made Maureen and our family feel at home, and like part of a family. Their culture of caring is exceptional, and our family cannot thank them enough for all that they did to make Maureen feel she was in a safe and loving environment from the very first day she entered into their care. May God bless you all.
Maureen’s passion in life was carrying out Virginia Satir’s model of family therapy with clients and within her own personal life. Those requesting information may direct memorials in Maureen’s name to satirglobal.org/Donate, or to an organization of your choice. A celebration of her life will be scheduled at a later date in Sioux City, Iowa.