Bert Rauleigh Graves II

Bud Graves passed away at his home in Tucson, Arizona on September 2, 2026, after a one-year battle with cancer, ending a life that was well lived and full of adventure.

Bud was born in Clarinda, Iowa and lived with his family in many small towns throughout Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska, as his father sought work. His father’s death when Bud was fourteen changed the course of his life. He moved with his stepmother Louise, his three sisters, and his two brothers to Omaha, Nebraska where he lived in the “projects” of South Omaha.

At the ripe age of sixteen, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in Okinawa and 29 Palms before his discharge in 1962. His daughter Laura was born during Bud’s military service. He returned with his young family to Omaha where he sought work while applying with the Los Angeles Police Department.

During his 22-year career with LAPD, Bud and his former wife, Kathy, had two more daughters, Marianne and Maureen. Bud had many interesting assignments on the Department, but his favorite was serving as a Sergeant with LAPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics Unit. He ended his career as “20d”, serving as second in command of SWAT. During his last few years on the Department, he met and married his wife, Becky. After retiring from LAPD, he started a second career as a government contractor, training law enforcement special teams both domestically and abroad. During this period, at age fifty-four, he bravely added one more daughter, Cassidy, to his brood.

As dedicated as he was to his work, Bud was also passionate about his off-duty activities. He loved road trips on his motorcycles or Mustang convertible, boating and waterskiing on the desert lakes of the Colorado River, camping, and having a cigar and glass of red wine with a friend.

Bud is survived by his wife Becky; his daughters Laura, Mari, Mo, and Cassie; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. They were his greatest joy.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a small donation to Tunnel to Towers Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.