John Travers Graves

John Travers Graves, 60, of South Burlington, VT passed away suddenly in his home on February 2, 2023. John was born on August 9, 1962 in Red Bank, NJ to Cecil Graves and Jeraldine Travers. His siblings recall him exhibiting his strong independent nature from an early age. He became a spiritual seeker in his early twenties, joining the Path of the Masters. From this Path he learned to love meditation and practiced it for the rest of his life. He spent most of his career in the automotive industry as a mechanic, with brief stints as a truck driver and security camera technician. He was known to accomplish what he set out to do with passionate vigor. In 1989 he taught himself home construction, well drilling, and electrical systems before he designed and built the cabin in which his son was born. He taught himself automotive computer electronics, sometimes studying for several days without sleep. This dedication to the task led to his first venture into self-employment, his business called, “Brain Surgery for Your Car”. He loved the outdoors, skateboarding, and bicycling. He learned trick biking while his son was a teenager, and through countless hours of practice was executing 20 pedal revolution wheelies in his late 40s. To all who knew him, he was kind, intelligent, generous, funny and caring. He is to be admired for living a full life on his own terms, from the start to the end. John is survived by his son, Reid Graves; daughter in law, Rachel Graves; granddaughter, Nash Graves; brother, Mark Graves; sisters, Sandee Gendron, Meg Graves-Audette, Beth Graves-Lombard, Amy Poirier, and Jo Canney; former wife, Malcolm Graves; nieces and nephews, Michael Gendron, Renee Gendron-Potwin, Amanda Gendron-Roese, Jared Audette, Jessica Nalette, Joshua, Jacob and Joel Lombard, Travers Graves, Erin Kelley, Chelsea Leese, Molly, Miah, Mary-Kate and Mackenzie Poirier, Amelia, Caroline and Joseph Canney; and countless friends from Central and Northern Vermont. He also leaves behind the community of Beacon Apartments, where he resided for the past seven years. John is predeceased by his parents Cecil Graves and Jeraldine Travers. His friends and family will gather on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at the American Legion located at 320 N Main Street, Barre, VT 05641 from 12-2 PM to celebrate a life well lived. He will be laid to rest in a special place. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Safe Harbor Health Center at https://www.chcb.org/donate/ or the Champlain Housing Trust at https://connect.clickandpledge.com/w/Form/1b169b22-abe4-426b-879d-7ad09d8cb311 , both of which were hugely beneficial to John’s quality of life during his last decade with us. Arrangements are under the care of Gendron Funeral & Cremation Services Inc. located at 2325 East Mall Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33901. 239-274-0088 www.gendronfuneralhome.com

John Travers Graves

August 9, 1962 - February 2, 2023