FARMINGTON – P. Natalie McGraw, 89, of Farmington, formerly of Oakfield, died Saturday, July 29, at Orchard Park Living and Rehabilitation Center, Farmington.

She was born on March 29, 1917, in Oakfield, the daughter of Owen “Tom” and Claudia (McLaughlin) Brannen.

She married William “Billy” McGraw on Jan. 26, 1940. They resided in Oakfield for more than 60 years. Billy passed away on Feb. 5, 2000.

She and Billy enjoyed “four wheeling,” camping with special friends, cooking and visits from their grandchildren. In Aug. of 2001, Natalie moved to Orchard Park and into the nursing home facility in May 2006.

Natalie taught school for 33 years in and around the Oakfield area, retiring in 1977. Many adults in the area fondly call her their “kindergarten teacher,” even today.

She was involved in getting the Oakfield Railroad Museum established. She was the first president of the Oakfield Historical Society and served on its board of directors for many years.

She was quite a historian. She followed her mother’s habit of recording births and deaths in Oakfield. Natalie was a school board member, a member of the Oakfield Grange Degree Team, a member of the Swinging Oaks Square Dance Club and worked as a hospice volunteer and devoted her energy to many other community activities.

Natalie attended Merrill High School for three years and then graduated from Oakfield Community High School in 1935. She was one of 22 students in that first graduating class of OCHS. She then attended Farmington Normal School for two years and began teaching shortly thereafter. She continued her education at Presque Isle and at the University of Maine at Orono. She graduated in May of 1962 from Presque Isle Teachers College.

Natalie is survived by two sons, Ret. Master Sergeant Roderick McGraw and wife, Susanne, of Palm Coast, Fla., and their three children, Nicole and Sheena McGraw of Palm Coast, and Laurie McGraw of Virginia Beach, Va., and Dr. Richard McGraw and his wife, Gloria, of Belgrade Lakes, and their children, Shawn and Charlene McGraw, Todd McGraw, Robyn Brooks, Melanie and John Mulrooney, and Dr. Troy and Betsy Norton.

Natalie REALLY enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Sierra, Brannen, Chelsea and Taylor McGraw, Connor and Aidan Mulrooney, Miles and Chandler Brooks, and Carter Norton.

She is also survived by a brother, Phillip Brannen of Oakfield, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.