Monica Rae Graber, 53, passed away Wednesday, November 21, 2012 in Wichita, Kansas. Visitation with the family will be Tuesday, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Downing and Lahey Mortuary West. Services will be Wednesday November 28 at First Mennonite Brethren Church.
Monica was born September 1, 1959 to Marvin Zook and Marjorie Bontrager Zook in Newton. She attended elementary school in Hesston and Newton and graduated from Hesston High School, where she was active in sports and music.
She was baptized and confirmed in St. Matthews Espiscopal Church in Newton. In 1977 whe married Phillip Cheatum in Newton. They had three children; Jennifer Marie (1977); Ryan Allen (1984), and Carl Richard (1989) The family lived for a while in Topeka and later moved to Wichita.
In 2003 she married Keith Graber, who survives. She was employed the past 10 years for the State of Kansas Judicial Branch as a court clerk.
Survivors: husband, Keith; daughter, Jennifer Gaig (Jason); sons, Ryan Cheatum (Samantha Bevan) and Carl Cheatum; grandchildren, Jocelyn Baig and Logan Allen Cheatum; mother, Marge Friesen, Newton; father, Marvin Zook (Dorothy) of Hesston; brothers, Steve Zook, Omaha; David Friesen, ElDorado; Rod Zook (Debbie), Hutchinson; Lonnie Martin (Lori), Denver and Danny Pyles (Ginger) of Phoenix, sisters, Cindi Woelk (Tim) of Hesston; Penny Friesen (Matt Ammons) of Wichita; Kim Borders (Rick) of Halstead and Teresa Mischo of Denver; mother and father-in-law, LeRoy and Leona Graber.
Her step-father, Elmer Friesen, preceded her in death. Memorials established with PALS Animal Rescue.
