Kathryn Jane Graff

Kathryn Jane Graff, 80 years old, of Moses Lake, Wash., passed away peacefully at Samaritan Hospital on June 17, 2026, after a battle with Stage 4 bone cancer. 

Kathy was born in Spokane, Wash. She lived in Colfax, Wash., as a small child, later moving with her family to their farm in Moses Lake Wash. She graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1964. She was the Columbia Basin Rodeo Queen in 1962 with her horse Rocket. She raised cattle while married to her first husband Pete Higgins. She was known for really loving the little calves she bottle-fed. 

With her second husband Ron Graff, she enjoyed horse racing, RVing, camping and gambling throughout the Northwest. They enjoyed their racehorses and dogs, taking their beloved dogs with them everywhere. Her favorite hobby was gambling. She would watch horse racing at home daily, betting from the app. Cancer didn't get her down. She would head to the casino in Spokane right after her cancer treatments. She made good friends with a few casino employees. She would always stop to say hello to them before leaving. 

Kathy was good at bookkeeping and math. She was one of a kind, headstrong and always right. She will be fondly remembered by many. 

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Tate and Mary Tate Anderson; brothers Dick Tate and Lauren Michael Tate; sister Barbara Evans; and husband Ron Graff. She is survived by a half-sister, Vicki Dills; ex-husband Pete Higgins; stepdaughters Dacquiri Graff and Brandee Graff Wolfe (James); step-grandson Jett Kendall; and many nephews, nieces, cousins and lifelong friends. 

Service will be held Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Kaysers Chapel and Crematory, 831 S. Pioneer Way, Moses Lake, Wash.

Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser's Chapel of Memories.