On April 9, 2010 Virgil Boyd Graves passed away in Austin. He was born on Sept. 12, 1941 in Sherman. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elbert Gaston Graves and Virginia Lee Slaughter, and his wife, Sharon McFarland Graves. He is survived by his three grown children, Laura Graves of Lakewood, Colo.; Alan Graves of San Diego, Calif.; and Scott Graves of Denver, Colo. He is also survived by his fiancee Laura Kaiser of Austin.

Dr. Graves was raised in Sherman, Texas, graduated from Sherman High School and received a bachelor of arts in math and physics from Austin College in 1963. On June 1, 1963, he married his childhood sweetheart, Sharon McFarland. They were married for 45 loving years and had three children.

Dr. Graves went on to achieve a master of science in mathematics and statistics from Southern Methodist University in 1965; an M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 1969; and, a post-doctoral fellowship in neuroradiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986.

Following completion of his education in 1974, he and his family moved to Great Falls, Mont. to begin his medical career in radiology. In 1975, he began the Big Sky Radiology Conference in Big Sky, Mont. It still continues today.
Continuing education was very important to him and eventually took him to the University of Wisconsin, where he became a professor of radiology and neuroradiology. There, he combined both his clinical skills and passion for academics. He was an outstanding teacher and researcher. He collaborated on numerous academic writings and research. He specialized in interventional neuroradiology, dedicating himself to advancing new interventional techniques and training other physicians. He was very active in multiple professional organizations and was well respected in his field.

Dr. Graves was active in the community. While living in Great Falls, Mont., he was an advisory board member for C.M. Russell Museum. In Madison, Wis. he was active with Christ Presbyterian Church supporting Luke House and missions to Juarez, Mexico. He was always very supportive and involved in his three children's educational pursuits and athletic endeavors.

While living in Montana, Dr. Graves was able to unite his passion for wildlife and the outdoors with his love for the arts. Through the help of the art community he explored his interest as a sculptor working in the bronze medium. When Dr. Graves retired in 2001 he returned to his native Texas and devoted his efforts and energy to sculpting. With the support of the Hill Country artists he accelerated his growth as an artist and his work can be seen in galleries and private collections from coast to coast.

Dr. Graves was a talented, quiet, kind, generous man who will be missed by many.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to the C.M. Russell Museum, Boerne Area Artists Association, University of Texas Medical Branch Radiology, or University of Wisconsin – Madison, Department of Radiology.

Vaughan's Funeral Home has a website to post comments and locate addresses for memorials, http://www.vaughanfuneralhome.com. To leave a message or a tribute for the family, please visit www.vaughanfuneralhome.com and select the obituaries icon. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Vaughan's Funeral Home of Boerne.