The adventurous life of  former U.S. Marine Frank Sloan Graves (“Gravy”), a longtime Lakeside resident who died January 1, aged 79, was celebrated at a commemoration held January 7, at the Jardin Restaurant on the Ajijic plaza.

Niki Jario, his longtime companion, related the incident when she, as a licensed pilot, took Gravy (not a pilot at that time) on a sortie to Palm Beach for a dinner date. When the engine gave up the ghost at 3,000 feet, giving way to “the whishing of air immediately followed by the plane starting a descent to the ground,” Gravy began to get alarmed and suggested that she land the plane in the ocean.  Jario said she quickly alerted air traffic control and after a series of urgent communications to all aircraft in the area,  she was informed that she could land on any runway she chose.  Although the plane overran the runway, they both walked away unharmed. Gravy’s first question to the emergency crew that surrounded the aircraft, Jario said, was to ask if the circumstances warranted him kneeling down to kiss the ground. That incident motivated him to become a licensed pilot, just in case he found himself in a similar situation in the future, Jario told the packed gathering at the Ajijic restaurant, organized by members of the Chapala chapter of the American Legion and the Canadian veterans organization ANAVETS (Army, Navy, Air Force Veterans)

A graduate of Columbia University who attended the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival, Gravy later became a landscape architect, and enjoyed a lifelong love of cars.

At his Ajijic send off, bagpiper Keith Crockatt belted out stirring renditions of “Amazing Grace” and “Scotland the Brave,”  the latter a song Gravy once told a friend he wanted played at his funeral to honor his Scottish heritage. Bugler Wayne Watson filled the air by playing “Taps,” the song that traditionally signals the final farewell to veterans who pass on.

Jario’s final wish for Gravy in her tribute summed up the thoughts of his many friends who attended the celebration of his life: “Flaps up, my friend, and fly high.”