Marie J Graff's Obituary
Marie J. Graff, 86, of Sandy, Utah—affectionately known to many as "The McDonald's Lady"—passed away peacefully at home on June 1, 2026, following a courageous 18-month battle with breast cancer.
Marie was no stranger to battle. She was born Suk Ja Kang on March 18, 1940, in Kyonggi-do Province (now known as Gyeonggi-do), Seoul, Korea (under Japanese occupation) to Myong Tae Kang and Wol Sun Pak, the oldest of eight children. After spending her early years under Japanese occupation and enduring the hardships of WWII, her young life was soon upended by the Korean War at just 10 years old. In June 1950, a knock on their door during the night warned the family to flee. They escaped to the mountains, where they hid in a cave with many other Koreans. When it appeared to be safe to flee, they began a long journey south, traveling on foot under the cover of darkness.
During this grueling journey, Marie's 2-year-old brother became ill. With no medical help available, Marie and her mother took turns carrying him on their backs until he passed away. They kept walking until they found a farmhouse with a shovel to dig his grave. The family remained at the southern tip of Korea until June 1953, when the war ended and they began the 240-mile journey back home. Resettling in a war-torn suburb of Seoul, Marie entered the workforce at the age of 13 to help pay for home repairs and her siblings' education—as there were no free schools in Korea at the time. She worked many jobs, beginning with helping her uncle reopen his candy factory and later wrapping candy once production resumed. Eventually, Marie took a job at the Seoul USO, where she met the love of her life, Larry Graff, a Specialist 4th Class in the US Army. They married in Korea in 1961, welcomed their first child, Kent, and immigrated to the United States in 1963. They settled in Liberty, Illinois (population 321), a world apart from the bustling streets of Seoul with a population of 3 million. Then, in January 1997, she and Larry moved to Sandy, Utah, to be closer to their grandchildren
After immigrating, Marie devoted herself to raising her family before entering the American workforce. She worked at Davis Cleaver and Motorola in Quincy, Illinois, before finding her true calling at McDonald’s as a biscuit baker and hostess. Over more than three decades, she became a beloved fixture in both Quincy and Sandy, earning the affectionate nickname “The McDonald’s Lady”. She retired in June 2019.
Marie was profoundly proud to be an American, deeply loving her adopted country and the opportunities and freedom it afforded her. She especially treasured her citizenship, earned through naturalization in 1969.
Above all, Marie was a cherished wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved hunting for treasures at garage sales, finding a good bargain at stores, working in her flower garden and in her home, playing canasta, attending her grandchildren’s activities, and dancing at their weddings. She was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren, always carrying photos to show everyone she met. She will be remembered for her boundless kindness, compassion, generosity, and unwavering desire to love and serve others.
Marie is survived by her husband; her children, Kent Graff (Sandy, UT), Rodney Graff (Holly Ridge, NC) and Angie (Scott) Reuschel (Sandy, UT); and her grandchildren, Alexis (Ben) Reuschel-Begley (Colorado Springs, CO), Cody Reuschel (Hyattsville, MD), Luke (Madeleine) Reuschel (Coronado, CA), Ellie Graff (Blacksburg, VA), and Sammie Graff (Apex, NC). She is also survived by her sisters in Korea, Yong Ja (He Goog Lim) Kang, Sook Ja (Tae Keun Hwang) Kang, and Su Kyong (Nak Chun Kim) Kang, as well as several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her infant brother; her brother, Duk Ho Kang; her sisters, Helen Hung Ja Jones and In Ja (Dong Seok Lee) Kang; and her brother-in-law, Alton Jones.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, including Dr. Roma Bhatia; nurses Tammy, Samara, and BJ; Natalie, Asher, and the rest of the staff; Dr. David Gaffney; Nurse Soffe and the radiation staff; the wound care, chemo, and Huntsman at Home Healthcare teams especially NP Heather Baucom; and CNS caregivers Kina and Karen. Marie considered you all friends and looked forward to your visits.
A celebration of life will be held by Grace Fellowship at Discovery Christian Community Church, 5929 S 900 E, Murray, UT 84121 on Saturday, July 11, 2026 beginning at 2:00 pm. Visitation will be held immediately beforehand from 1:00 to 1:45 pm. The service will also be live streamed online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Pifrhd0-k6E&ra=m. We will continue the celebration of Marie following the service with light food and refreshments at the church.
In lieu of flowers, please plant a perennial flower (especially a Rose of Sharon, the national flower of Korea) and enjoy its blooms year after year in Marie’s memory. If annuals are more your style, Marie enjoyed geraniums, petunias, and marigolds. Donations may also be made to the Xander Cemetery, Liberty, IL 62347. Mail can be sent to Larry Graff, PO Box 1223, Sandy, UT 84091.
From war-torn Korea to a life beautifully centered on family, friendship, and service, Marie's journey embodied perseverance, gratitude, and love. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
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