Roy C. Grafe Jr., age 93, passed away on Saturday, August 15, 2026 after a full and happy life.

He was born on February 4, 1933 to Roy C. Grafe Sr. and Lucile Goff Grafe. Roy attended all twelve years of school at Lucedale Elementary and High School and graduated in April 1951. He was an outstanding athlete in all sports but excelled in football. Roy was captain of the team his senior year. He continued his education at Mississippi State University and graduated in 1955 with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering. Roy later earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) at The University of Southern Mississippi.

On April 21, 1956, Roy married the love of his life, Kay Fountain Grafe. Roy and Kay were happily married for over sixty-seven years. The couple had two daughters, Beverly Dawn Sevier (Steve) and Babette Kay Flanagan (Trey); two grandchildren, Hunter Grafe Flanagan, and Lealand Kay Flanagan; and two great grandchildren.

Roy was preceded in death by his wife, Kay F. Grafe; parents, Roy and Lucile Grafe; brother Robert Grafe.

Roy had a successful work career and all of it was in the Department of Defense. After graduating from college, he worked a short time for General Motors developing gas turbine engines to be used in future C-130 aircraft. This work was interrupted for two years while he served in the Army. After basic training, he spent the remainder of his active military service at Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas, working in research and development of chemical and biological weapons. After discharge from active duty, Roy spent the next ten years working at Brookley AFB and Eglin AFB in aircraft service engineering. After Brookley AFB closed, Roy accepted a job with the Navy as a supervisory engineer at the new shipyard in Pascagoula, MS. He worked there until he retired from Federal Service in 1988. After a few months he was asked to work as a consulting engineer for the Navy; he did this for the next four years.

After retirement, Roy and Kay traveled throughout the United States as well as overseas and thoroughly enjoyed retirement.

Roy always stayed involved in his Church. He held practically every leadership position in First Church of Lucedale, but his proudest project was managing the building of the Family Life building. Roy loved his Church. He loved Lucedale. He loved his friends. He loved his MSU Bull Dogs. He loved running races. He loved his two daughters, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. But next to his Lord, Roy loved Kay. And Kay loved Roy. They lived special lives, full of fun, adventure and love. They were truly a special couple.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 PM on Wednesday August 19, 2026, at First Church of Lucedale, 5101 Main Street, Lucedale, MS with burial following at Magnolia Cemetery, Lucedale.

Visitation will be held from 11:00AM-12:00PM on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at First Church of Lucedale, 5101 Main Street, Lucedale, MS.

Sigler Funeral Home, 4248 Main Street, Lucedale, MS, 601-947-3112 is in charge of arrangements.