Lance Blaine

Graf

Lance Blaine Graf, age 34, of Vernon, Texas, passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. He was born on Monday, July 20, 1992, in Wichita Falls, Texas. Lance was the son of Phillip and Kim Kersh Graf and a lifetime resident of Wilbarger County.

He worked in the cattle and ranching industry and was the owner and operator of Graf Recycling, a scrap metal business which began with the help of the late George London providing guidance when Lance was in grade school.

Lance had a strong entrepreneurial spirit which began at a very young age. Before he could drive legally, he raised chickens and sold eggs as well as selling Floydada pumpkins. He started raising and selling goats when he was ten and would contract his goats to various rodeos to be used for goat tying. Later, he began producing goat ropings. He was partners in the wild hog trapping business with his grandad, who was no longer a partner after Lance received his driver’s license. Growing up Lance helped his grandad on the farm, baling and hauling alfalfa hay, cultivating and sowing wheat, and processing cattle.

Lance was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. He was a 2010 graduate of Vernon High School; he participated in football, baseball, FFA and was a member of National Honor Society. He was a 10 year 4-H member with beef and horse projects which encompassed showing steers and roping. He won numerous awards in JRCA, MRCA, THSRA, and 4-H including the 2006 State 4-H Champion Roper and the 2010 Tri-State All-Around Boy Champion. Lance attended Vernon College on a rodeo scholarship where he competed in calf roping, team roping, and steer wrestling. He was “pretty handy with a rope” whether it was day working in the pasture or at a local team roping.

Lance was known as a charismatic, kind-hearted, and generous man who had a dry wit and was the proud owner of a pet monkey. On a serious note, it was his compassionate nature which led him to assist a visually impaired lady to the win in the senior division of the annual Matthew’s Easter Egg Hunt. An avid hunter, Lance blessed many with his donated wild game meat. He enjoyed attending all professional sporting events and going to concerts. Lance gained many friends on his short walk of life who will truly miss him and his unique personality.

Lance was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Curtis Graf, and his maternal grandparents, Dean and Bonnye Kersh.

Lance is survived by his parents, Phillip and Kim Graf of Vernon, Texas; his sister, Kelsey Graf of Houston Heights, Texas; his grandmother, Jean Graf of Vernon, Texas; his aunts, René Bagley (Steven), Melanie Graf, Kendra Aucoin (Wade), and Kathy Kersh along with his first cousins, Valerie Gammon (Matt), Kendall Kersh (Christen), Maci Zaragoza (Jose), Tori Aucoin, Rebecca Coulter (Cody), Brice Bagley, Carson Graf; numerous great aunts, great uncles, and cousins. Lance also leaves behind his Godparents, John and Lisa Ford.

Visitation will be Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Western Trail Cowboy Church starting at 1:00 pm until services begin. Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 2:00 pm at the Western Trail Cowboy Church with The Reverend Trey Schur officiating. Interment will follow at Wilbarger Memorial Park under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Curtis A. Graf Rodeo Scholarship at Vernon College, the Vernon College Rodeo Team, or a charity of choice.