Birthdate: February 23, 1933 URS date: July 5th, 2016
Richard Warren Graham was born Feb. 23, 1933 in North Hollywood, Calif. to a family in the film industry. He died of a terminal lung disease July 5, 2016 at home in Willits. He and his wife Maggie of 55 years moved to Mendocino County in 1980 and built an off the grid home on 2nd Gate Rd. They moved into downtown Willits in October of 2011.
Many will remember Dick as the proprietor of the Harvest Bounty Natural Food Store where he cooked in the lunch counter. He later ran down-sized versions of Harvest Bounty in the Willits Country Mall. Dick was an avid folk dancer and his chief focus in life was music, from Pete Seeger to Willie Nelson, ethnic folk music to classical. He spent his last years learning the ukulele. Dick took a BA degree in motion picture production from UCLA and was in movies as a child. He had been in the Army and became a photographer, taking head shots for the Willits Community Theater as well as acting, directing and being on the artistic direction committee. He served on the boards of Friends of the Willits Library, Ecology Action and later, briefly on the boards of the Senior Center and the Grange. Dick also delivered Meals on Wheels and scraped dishes in the Senior Center dining room.
Others also know Dick in his other manifestation as Sufi teacher and zikr leader. His deep spiritual practice kept him firmly on the path of love and service.
The Grahams have one son, Michael who was with his mother and father when Dick slipped quietly into death after a family dinner. Michael lives in Ohio with his wife Susan and their two daughters, Ava and Charlotte.
A “Remembering Dick” event will be held in the Grange Great Hall on Sunday, July 31, 3 to 5 p.m. Please bring your memories of Dick to share and if you care to, you may bring finger foods to share as well.
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I was married to Dick for 55 years and knew him as someone who lived to be of service to others. Always considerate, he chose to leave this life at the most opportune time. He waited for our son Michael’s yearly visit from Ohio over the 4th of July. They had three good days of visiting and after a dinner at the table on July 5th with the three of us, Dick slipped easily away in his bed that night. No pain, no struggle, though he was succumbing to an incurable lung disease diagnosed just one and a half years ago. I’m grateful he chose to go when I would have the support of Michael’s presence. Alhamdullilah!
I am finding just how much he was loved by all who knew him.
Wahid led A zikr in Willits CA every Thursday night for many years.
He was a well known and beloved community member. He was also a kind and patient teacher who saw many go in and out of his counsel over the years. He is dearly loved and will be heart felt missed. Blessings Wahid in your dance among the stars.
A good father. A good listener. A good Sufi. I see him dancing now. I wish I knew where the Wind has taken him. I would go there right now and tell him I love him.
I only knew Dick for six years but in that time, he amazed me with his grace and gravity, his ability to hold life as sacred and meaningful and both to laugh at the foibles of himself and other human beings and the lightness to find life ephemeral and in Allah’s hands.
He taught me to play ukulele and we went to uke group together which we both enjoyed immensely.
I have placed his photo on my screen saver along with my grandson so he will put up from time to time to remind of how much love I feel for him wherever he is now.
When I became librarian at Willits Library in December 2001, Maggie and Dick had already been long time Friends of the Library. Maggie served as treasurer for many years and then, during the County’s most financially precarious years, when Willits Library was constantly threatened with closure, and the Friends were paying for everything from books to paperclips, Dick took on the responsibility of leading the Friends group in the role of President. His sense of service was exemplary, and from that difficult position in a stressful time, he helped preserve a great good for his community. For me personally, it was a much needed act of faith, and friendship. Thank you, Dick, for the gift of your great goodwill.
The first time I met Dick (with Maggie) was at Breitenbush at one of the early NW Sufi Camps in 1980 or 1981 and Dick sailed to the heavenly realm during a class exercise I was unskillfully leading at the time. He was so very happy about it, and his happiness washed over me like a natural waterfall of love – still does. Always caring, always understanding, always supportive, always loving – that was Dick (Wahid, later in his life at Sami Mahal in San Rafael). He reveled in the joy of others. Being around him was like being safe at home. Blessings on your journey, many ya salaams……
Very true! Makes a change to see sonmoee spell it out like that. 🙂
I met Dick through Vasheest Davenport. When Vasheest’s life took a difficult turn, and in response, some people turned against him, Dick remained a true friend. When Vasheest died, I remember Dick’s kindness and compassion to me, having lost my partner and beloved. In earlier years Dick arranged for me and my dance partner Vishnu Tattva Das to do a performance up in Willits, which was much appreciated. Vasheest and I spent a few days with Dick and Maggie at their home and I remember the warmth and love that invited us in. Thank you Dick. You are warmly remembered, and thank you Maggie. You have been fortunate to share so many years with Dick. Blessings. Sorry I couldn’t be there for the memorial in July.
I owned a bookstore in Pacifica when Maggie and Dick lived down there. I remember them as good people who befriended me back then. Dick was a talented photographer who worked for a large company that made machinery. He told me that he’d studied acting at USC and that acting was a very useful skill in business meetings. I found out how right he was in my later carreer.