Vic Graybeal

Vic E. Graybeal 1923 – 2022 Vic E. Graybeal, 98, Twin Falls, Idaho, died February 26th peacefully at home. Vic was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, August 20, 1923 to Velmer Graybeal and Velva Webb, the oldest of 2 boys. He went to school in Kimberly until the age of 13. In 1937 his family moved to California. While in school he participated in football, basketball and track. He graduated from Hayward Union High School, Hayward, California in 1942. Vic was drafted in in 1943 to the Army (he preferred the Navy) where he specialized in truck and jeep repair, instrument and gun repair, heavy equipment repair and promoted to a Motor Inspector. Vic served overseas in New Guinea and Los Negros, Manilla, Layte, and the Philippines. When the atomic bomb was dropped, Vic went to Yokohoma and Tokyo. After three months in Japan, he had enough points to go home and was home by Christmas with an Honorable Discharge. While Vic was in the Army he met Bob Leaser, a photographer also from Twin Falls, Idaho. They became friends and Bob taught Vic how to mix chemicals and make prints. Eventually Vic bought his first Kodak camera and started selling prints while in the military. This was the beginning of a life long passion. When back in Hayward, Vic decided to make a go of it and started a photography career. He went to the Oakland Tribune, where he was turned down because he was not trained as a news reporter. Vic called the G.I. School and was soon admitted to Stover’s Commercial Photography School in Oakland, CA. He was placed under the best photographer in the Bay Area on the G.I. Bill. It was three years of job training and the government paid half and the employer paid half. Vic stated he learned more about photography than any school could offer. He had the best photography accounts like, Levi-Strauss, Signode Steel Strapping, Bethlehem Steel, Lily Ann Dresses, AAA Insurance and photographed many weddings. Eventually, Vic bought his own equipment, which included a 4x5 speed Grafic (Anniversary Model) with a focal plane shutter speed with a 1000th of a second in addition to the front lens. He bought a 4x5 Omega enlarger, a dryer, and many other items as time went on. In 1947 Vic decided to go back to Hayward and open his own shop. He bought his city license and got started. In the fall, that same year, he made a fateful decision to go pheasant hunting with family, back in Idaho. While there he met his wife of 60 years, Marian Teasley. They married on Valentine’s Day in 1948 in Twin Falls. In 1949, Vic and Marian welcomed their only son, Mark Victor. There was not much demand for commercial photography in the area. He began working at KLIX Radio and helped to build the TV Station. He was film director for KMVT for 17 years. During that time, he produced three films that he was very proud of. The first was a 30-minute film, They Grow Trout by the Million, which has been shown all over Europe. The second was a 15-minute film for Magic Valley Memorial Hospital, The Pink Ladies. The third was the Sierra Life Story, a 30-minute film produced for the Insurance Company. For many years he worked two jobs: at KMVT as a photographer and film director and also a landlord of 17 rental properties which he and his wife owned. During his time at KMVT he was privileged to do the “News Events” and meet and captured the lives of many celebrities that came to Twin Falls and Sun Valley. During his career, he photographed Marilyn Monroe, Gordon and Shelia McRae, Louis Armstrong, Jack Carter, Paul Harvey, Jack Dempsey, and Don Wilson. He took hundreds of pictures for Holly Houfburg who brought the Grand Ole Opry entertainers to town to play in Jackpot, NV. Vic was one lucky man when he met and had lunch with Marilyn Monroe while she came to Idaho to film Bus Stop. One major “job” that he retold often was being called off the golf course by ABC and CBS News to go immediately to Ketchum to report on the Ernest Hemmingway death. After KMVT, Vic went to work for Sierra Life Insurance with Fred Frazier. He worked there until Sierra Life went of business. In 1984, he began to work for the College of Southern Idaho in charge of the Audio-Visual Department and taking all the campus pictures. He later went to work in the Automotive and Maintenance Department. He worked for CSI for 15 years. Vic was a 70-year Mason, a 60-year Shriner with El Korah, and a member of the Scottish Rite. Vic was an Honorary Past Master of Twin Falls Lodge #45 AF & AM. He regularly attended the Twin Falls Nazarene Church. He donated 137 photos to the Twin Falls Public Library. He spent many years traveling all 50 states with his family, playing golf and was an avid golf ball collector. He displayed a collection in his garage of 1400 logo golf balls. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Lloyd (Thelma) Graybeal, his loving wife Marian, in-laws Bud and Marlese Teasley and his grandson Victor Graybeal. Survivors include his son Mark (Joyce) Graybeal, and many grandchildren, including: Jason (Emily) Graybeal of Gooding; Jessica (Jermaine) Galloway of Prosper, TX; Destiny (Chad) Nielson of Filer; Jared (Stefanie) Graybeal of Fort Collins, CO; Jennie Brown of Twin Falls; Julee (Christopher) Alhm of Kimberly. Great-grandchildren include: Sheree Graybeal of Reno,NV; Colin Graybeal, Reno, NV; Garrett and Adalynn Graybeal of Gooding; Jordin and Olivia Galloway of Prosper, TX; Natalie, Dallan and Blake Nielson of Filer; Saige Lehmann and Tyler Sears of Twin Falls; and Alee and Colt Anderson, Tiberius Alhm of Kimberly; and great-great granddaughter Ailyn Graybeal of Reno, NV. Contributions in Vic’s memory may be made to the Shriners Hospitals. We would like to thank Hospice Visions for their tender, loving care over the last five months. Heather, Carl, Steve, and Nikita went above and beyond during this time of need. Arrangements are under the care and directions of Parke’s Magic Valley Funeral Home. A memorial to celebrate Vic’s life will be held at 5:00 PM, Friday, March 4th at Parke’s Magic Valley Funeral Home, 2551 Kimberly Rd, Twin Falls, ID. A reception will follow the service. Military rites will be conducted at the graveside at 12:00 on Monday, March 7th at the Snake River Canyon National Cemetery in Buhl, Idaho. For those wishing to leave condolences, you may visit Vic’s page at www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com View Vic's Memorial Video at: https://youtu.be/_0GdkGjvLhY View Vic's Memorial Service at: https://youtu.be/Ws0bgZPFO0w