Marci Lynne Graber was born Marci Lynne Merkle in Kentucky. When she was five years old her family moved to San Antonio, Texas to be closer to her grandparents.
Marci grew up just north of San Antonio enjoying life and dreaming of horses with a sketchbook in one hand and a pencil in the other. After attending her first formal art training, she drew her first colored pencil drawing “Making the Master’s Mark” and the following year she painted “Secret Life of Daydreams”. Both pieces were juried First Place in the San Antonio Livestock and Rodeo Western Art Competition in 2009 and 2010. Not only was she was awarded a financial scholarship, but also selected to study under Phil Bob Borman and Glen Lyles through the Western Art Academy in Kerrville, Texas. With the scholarship she attended the University of Texas Health Science Center where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 2014.
Her first horse was Buddy, an older ranch horse. As you can imagine Buddy became the inspiration for many of her paintings. This was where Marci got the feel and texture of a horse first hand. This led to a continued passion for all things in ranching, from horses, to cows, to leather, to dogs, and to a certain Cowboy that came into her life around the time she was pursuing her Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Jonathan was the cowboy of her dreams, and has furthered the adventure of life into the western world for her.
One very important thing that gets the first and most attention in a day, is her relationship with her Savior, from whom Marci has received the talents she possesses.
In August 2014 she married her cowboy, Jonathan Graber, the love of her life. Alongside of her husband they currently live outside of Cuero, Texas building a horse and cattle operation. While raising up her little cowboys, Robert, Roy, and her cowgirl Jonjalena, she continues to work as a Registered Nurse in Home Health in between helping on the ranch, barrel racing, riding and training horses. Though her life is busier than ever it seems, the days must be getting longer as she still manages to pursue her God given passion for painting.
L-R (Backrow) Jonjalena (2), Marci, Jonathan L-R (Frontrow) Robert (8), Roy (6)