Patrick Clifford Graney, III of Charleston, West Virginia, died on August 29, 2025, peacefully at home surrounded by his wife and four sons. He was 72 years old.

Born on June 27,1953, in Charleston, WV, to the late Patrick Clifford Graney, Jr. and Anne Revercomb Graney, Pat’s family moved to Mt. Hope, where he grew up.  He attended Mt. Hope Elementary School and Mt. Hope Junior High School.  During his childhood, he had a brief career as a pet fish breeder (with over ten tanks), formed a band with several buddies called the Sons of Freedom, and played as much golf as he could at White Oak Country Club.  Following in his father’s footsteps, he attended boarding school at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, MA, where he graduated in 1971.  He then matriculated to the University of Virginia, where he was actively engaged in academic and student leadership activities, including Managing Editor of the Cavalier Daily, an Honor Committee Adviser, a member of St. Elmo Hall, a member of the IMP Society, and held the esteemed honor of living on the Lawn.  He earned the distinguished Raven Award at UVA for service and contribution to the University.  At the end of his first year at UVA, he was invited to a surprise birthday party for a classmate he hadn’t yet met; the birthday girl was Jessica Ann Smith.  This was the start of their lifelong partnership.  After Pat graduated from UVA in 1975 with a B.A. in University Studies, with an emphasis in History and Economics, he and Jessica were married on July 26, 1975, and moved to Beckley, West Virginia, to begin their life together.  Pat returned to the University of Virginia and earned a Master of Business Administration in 1981.  Pat and Jessica moved to Charleston, West Virginia, in 1985.

Pat started his career working in the coal industry for the businessman Jack Long, and at the encouragement of his grandmother, Thelma Snyder Graney, purchased a small petroleum distributorship in 1975 called Petroleum Products, Inc.  Beginning in 1988, Pat turned his attention fully to growing Petroleum Products and his other business, the One Stop Convenient Store Chain.  Over his career, Pat grew Petroleum Products from eleven West Virginia employees to a multi-state business, serving the coal, construction and oil and gas industries.  He also grew One Stop, alongside his brother, to a 50+ store regional chain.  After selling his businesses, Pat officially “flunked retirement” and continued his professional career through various endeavors in real estate, the oil and gas industry, and other entrepreneurial ventures.  In 2014, he was one of the proud founding members, along with his two oldest sons, of Nacelle Solutions.  He has also served on several corporate boards over the years, including The Bank of Mount Hope, Appalachian Tire, City National Bank, The Mountain Company, Truist Bank, and Ramaco Resources.  Pat was inducted into the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame in 2014.  Pat also served as an investor, mentor, and advisor to companies and entrepreneurs across several industries nationwide.  During this “retirement,” Pat helped his four sons launch businesses and served as their top advisor, mentor, and supporter.

In addition to his impressive business career, Pat dedicated a significant portion of his life to public and government service.  Pat served as Financial Strategist to the Governor of West Virginia in the Office of Community and Industrial Development from 1985-87.  He also served as volunteer Co-Chairman of the successful bipartisan campaign to enact the Stock Investment Amendment in 1997, positively impacting the financial landscape of West Virginia for generations to come.  In December 2008, Pat was appointed to the Board of Trustees for the Richmond Federal Reserve, serving from 2008-13, advising the Richmond Fed President on business issues and concerns on behalf of his fellow West Virginians.  Pat also served in leadership roles for many government advocacy organizations, including the Board of the West Virginia Coal Association, President of The West Virginia Oil Marketers and Grocers Association (OMEGA), and as a Board Member and Chairman of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, as well as on several national advisory boards in the coal and petroleum industries.  In addition, Pat was a part of the team that founded the Mountain State Chapter of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) and was active in YPO for many years, serving as President of the organization.  He counts his YPO forum mates amongst some of his best friends and confidantes.

Pat has been a dedicated community member, involved at a deep level with countless civic and charitable ventures throughout West Virginia, including the United Way of the Kanawha Valley (past Chairman), the Clay Center for Arts & Sciences (past Board Member), the Buckskin Council of BSA (past Chairman), the University of Charleston (Board Member for 27 years, Chairman for 5 years), Chairman of the CAMC Foundation gala, Board Member of the WV Drug Intervention Institute, and many others.  A man guided by his faith and unwavering convictions, he was a dedicated parishioner and served on the Finance Committee for the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of Sacred Heart for over 35 years.  Pat was honored to receive the Good Scouter Award, along with his wife, in 2019, and the Spirit of the Valley Award in 2022.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick C. Graney, Sr. of Mt. Hope, and Senator and Mrs. William Chapman Revercomb of Charleston.  He is survived by his beloved wife of fifty years, Jessica, four sons: Patrick, IV (Dabney) of Charlotte, North Carolina, Gov (Claire) of Charleston, Kevin (Emily) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Michael of Santa Monica, California.  Pat is also survived by nine adoring grandchildren, each of whom he first met at the hospital dressed in a full business suit and tie: Patrick V, Charles, Magnolia, Woodrow, Celeste, Sylvie, Burns, Lee, and Lucie Ann, all Graneys, and according to Grandad, “Boke Wokes,” his very own original moniker.  He is also survived by his sisters, Sharon Graney Bibb (Thomas) of Charlottesville, VA, Sara Graney Schroeder (Fred) of Charlottesville, VA; brother, Mike Graney of Charleston; and his sister-in-law, Mary Smith Siegel of Washington, DC.  He was the true patriarch of an expanded extended family, including many nieces, nephews, cousins, family friends, and community members.

Even with these many business, civic, and philanthropic achievements, Pat’s greatest joy in life was serving humbly as the leader of his family.  At Thanksgiving every year with the extended family, he was the lead guitarist and vocalist in the Family Band, leading incredible renditions of House of the Rising Son, The Weight, and Country Roads.  He was the permanent Center during the Gravy Bowl, where he was always ready to call “Play B” (the blitz package), and the ultimate manager of the annual wood splitting operation.  More importantly, he served as an enthusiastic supporter and listener to all of his extended family members.  Pat loved spending time with his grandchildren, nicknamed by them “Captain Oreo” for bestowing his favorite cookie upon them any time of day.  He was always ready with one of his “This Boy Stories,” which gave enthusiastic listeners a vivid window into his early boyhood and fatherhood and created lasting memories for his grandchildren to cherish for a lifetime.  He was the ultimate role model to his sons, delivering many needed “lecture series” in their youth, which transitioned into wisdom and counsel as they grew older.  Pat especially enjoyed advising them on their businesses, beating them in golf, and taking them on ski trips for 40+ years.  His boys will miss their hero, best friend, and mentor every day, but will celebrate his legacy and know that he always believed firmly in them and wanted them to live their best lives.  Above all, Pat’s favorite thing to do was to spend any time he could with his beloved wife.  They especially loved travelling the world together, which began with a whirlwind honeymoon in 1975 to Europe, and included visiting more than 30 countries on six of the seven continents over the years, a dream “mancation” in Alaska later in life, and also a six week trip around the world in 2015.  Just as much as he loved these world travels, he enjoyed the beauty and blessing in the mundane day-to-day life of marriage, relaxing in the den, having an extremely acceptable glass (or two) of wine, and even begrudgingly watching Jessica do her crossword puzzles.

There will never be enough accolades or stories to fully encapsulate the complete character of Patrick Clifford Graney, III.  Known affectionately as “The Big Dog” or “The Man” by all four of his sons, Pat was absolutely the man, the man who will be loved and missed by all.  Until we meet again.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Visitation on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at the Clay Center for Arts and Science from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  A Funeral Mass will be held at the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of Sacred Heart on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM.  A reception will be held at the University of Charleston in the Rotunda in Riggleman Hall following the funeral service.

In honor of his generously benevolent spirit and passion for all to enjoy lifelong learning, Pat’s family requests, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the University of Charleston.  Contributions can be directed to the Patrick C. Graney III Endowment Fund, University of Charleston, 2300 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Charleston, WV 25304.

Memories of Pat may be shared by visiting http://snodgrassfuneral.com and selecting the obituary. Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, is handling the arrangements.