Irene was born March 21, 1939, at Mercy Hospital in Arkansas City, KS, and passed away on July 8, 2021 in Midlothian, Texas. She was the last of five children born to Walter and Amanda (Hauser) Graham who resided in Geuda Springs, KS. Irene began school at Geuda Springs, but mid-way through first grade she moved with her family to a farm in the Eaton Community near Burden, KS where she completed first through sixth grades at the Eaton Community School. She then completed her education of Junior High and High School at Winfield, KS, graduated in 1957.

She was baptized in the Methodist Church and was a member of the Tisdale Methodist Church, Winfield, KS where during her teen years she was active in the youth group and served as Sunday School treasurer.

Irene had a lengthy career as a secretary beginning in May of 1957 in the Admissions and Placement Office at Southwestern College in Winfield, KS. There she met Isaac (Ike) Koby who was a student at Southwestern, and they married August 22, 1959. They had two children; Kris Lanette was born in 1960 in Hoisington, KS and Kirk Laine was born in 1963 in Winfield, KS. While Kris and Kirk were young, Irene assisted with their school, scouting and athletic activities until their graduation from Bowie High School in Arlington, TX.

After Ike's graduation at Southwestern, his teaching career and later his business career involved frequent relocations for the family. During these years Irene was secretary at The Business College and KAKE-TV in Wichita, KS. In 1969, Arlington Texas became the family home, and she was employed by the Architecture Department at The University of Texas at Arlington, Texas. In 1971 she transferred to the College of Business at the University and became a faculty support person preparing manuscripts for publication. Additional secretarial positions were at General Telephone, SBS Telecommunications and the law firm of Boyd, Veigle and Hance. In 1995, she fulfilled her career by resigning from the position of Executive Legal Secretary in the Legal Department of J.C. Penney Company in Plano, TX.

Other Texas homes included San Angelo, Plano, Dallas, Mabank and Ennis. From 1983 to 1985 home was in the Washington DC area.

A favorite activity for Irene was traveling as often as possible. Many trips and cruises included children, grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Throughout her life she visited all fifty states in the United States plus four continents. She loved the good time, and sometimes crazy times, with children and grandchildren the most and enjoyed the annual reunions with the Graham and Koby families.

Later in life, Cedar Creek Lake provided a relaxed environment, boating and water activities with many family members and friends. After moving to Ennis, TX, she volunteered for the Meals on Wheels program from 2005 to 2019.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Kris and Terry Penny; a son, Kirk Koby; grandchildren: Brittany and Chris McFadden, Rachel and Joe Lassiter, and Kaylee Koby; great-grandchildren: Ellie McFadden, Lyle and Kolbe Lassiter; sister-in-law, Viola Strausz; and brother-in-law, Lloyd Koby.

Irene is preceded in death by her husband Isaac Koby, parents, brothers and sister-in-laws, Delbert and Mary Graham and Herman and Elaine Graham Thomas; sisters and brother-in-laws, Carolene and Les Newlin, Philip and Alene Miller; sisters in-law and brothers-in-law, Mary and Cleet Clark, Ralph and Carroll Koby, Ruth and Bill Sheffler, Roy Koby, Betty Koby, Melvin Strausz, Gene and Ermina Shepherd and great-granddaughter, Penny Lassiter.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, July 19, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. in Myrtle Cemetery of Ennis, Texas with Dr. Larry Jinks officiating at the intersection of Myrtle and Knox Streets. In lieu of flowers, memorial donation are suggested to Meals on Wheels of Johnson and Ellis County, 106 East Kirkpatrick, Cleburne, TX 76031, or the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Obit written by Irene Koby