Chris Bailey McGraw

Chris Bailey McGraw, age 73, of St. Ignace, Michigan, died in Scobey, Montana on November 17, 2022. He was born in Midland, Michigan, on December 7, 1948, to Norman Bailey and Nina Lucille (Woods) McGraw.

He was a cherished and beloved husband to Jennifer McGraw for twenty-seven years.

Chris grew up in Midland and graduated from Bullock Creek High School. He attended Delta College and later joined the Michigan State Police as a cadet and graduated from the police academy in June 1970. Chris served in Lansing, Traverse City, and eventually retired from the St. Ignace Police Post in May 1998 after twenty-eight years.

He lived through three bouts with brain tumors, several car accidents, a major motorcycle accident, and never met a sheet of ice he wouldn’t fall through. He was once run over on the job with the Michigan State Police, and on a different occasion, he was drug down the road by a car.

Chris was an avid outdoors man who loved elk and deer hunting, as well as fishing, trapping, snowmobiling, and riding the side-by-side. He also enjoyed visiting his cabins, picking morel mushrooms, and going on hunting trips to Canada and Montana. Chris won several big buck contests, two master angler awards, and once baited in five bears which were harvested by Chris, his sons, and others on opening day.

He told great stories about his hunting exploits and his time with the Michigan State Police. He was an intelligent, clever, witty jokester, who loved to joust with his coffee buddies (twice a day) and tease his wife. He had lots of friends. Chris liked to make the grandkids squeal, try to knock them off the tube, and rock the little ones to sleep. He loved his grandchildren with a passion but was not one to change diapers.

Chris is survived by his wife, Jennifer S. McGraw; sons, Wes (Heidi) McGraw of Thompson Falls, Montana, Ryan (Tammy) McGraw of Thompson Falls, Montana, Dane (Mirika) McGraw of Thompson Falls, Montana, and Zach (Cara) Schroeder of Hessel, Michigan; daughter, Sydney (Tim) Rosochacki of Indian River, Michigan; grandchildren, Bailey (Matthew) Backman, Colton McGraw, Carter McGraw, Jane St. Onge, Sawyer Schroeder, Eleanor Rosochacki, Scout Schroeder, Liliana Rosochacki, Syrus Schroeder, and Linden Rosochacki; sisters, Cheryl Adams of Midland, Yvonne (Herb) Church of Midland, and Annelle McGraw of Midland; brother, Kurt “Bo” (Pam) McGraw of Midland; brother-in-law, Tim (Stacey) Nelson of Naubinway, Michigan; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Chris is preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Nina McGraw; brother-in-law, Bernie Adams; father-in-law, Russell Nelson; and mother-in-law, Suzanne Nelson as well as his beloved German shorthaired pointer, Ginger.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, from 4 P.M. until 8 P.M. and Thursday, December 1, 2022, from 10 A.M. until 12 P.M. at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 999 S. State Street, St. Ignace, Michigan 49781. The Funeral Service will follow at 12 P.M.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.

Galer Funeral Home & Cremation in Pickford, Michigan, is serving the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com.