Beau Graves—A Family Man with the Heart of a Cowboy | My Member Story

Every once in a while, you come across someone with a spirit so authentic that all you can think about is how to spend more time with them. Mountain America member Beau Graves is one of those people!

Beau has an imposing presence, but once you see his welcoming smile, it’s clear you have nothing to worry about. As a matter of fact, your day just got 100% better!

Family first

When Beau isn’t working, he spends most of his time with his wife, Jenalee, and two adorable children—10-year-old Claralee and five-year-old Beau Duke (named after “The Duke” himself—John Wayne). They love being outdoors—camping, fishing and riding four-wheelers. They are also big BYU football fans who never miss a game.

“Nothing is more important to me than my family. I absolutely love my career, hobbies and passions but everything I do professionally is so I can provide unique experiences and financial stability for my family,” shared Beau. “But Jenalee is the rock of the family. Without her unwavering support, I wouldn’t get to do all the things that make me happy.”

A Mountain America fan from birth

Beau grew up in a family where saving money was an important concept. His mom opened an account for him at Mountain America Credit Union shortly after he was born. She often had discussions about finances and made sure he understood the importance of saving.

He and his family have benefitted from many services at Mountain America—from loans and credit cards to savings and checking accounts.

Why has Beau stayed with the same financial institution for over 37 years? He loves the consistent, reliable service he gets every time he walks through the doors or contacts our service center.

“I love the experience I have when I work with folks from the branches. I love how easy the Mountain America mobile app makes it for me to manage my financial affairs,” he shared. “We are always taken care of when we need support or help.”

He advises others to make the switch and go to Mountain America. “Make the change and plan on never looking back. You won’t regret it. Everything is simpler and the experience is better than anything you’ve had before.”

The heart of a cowboy

A digital marketing expert by trade, Beau has the heart of a true cowboy. And although he is not a cowboy in the working sense of the word (nor would he ever refer to himself as one), no one could have more respect and love for that lifestyle and the people who live it.

Beau has a passion for learning about history and spends some of his valuable free time studying cowboy heritage and culture. Specifically, he has a soft spot for cowboy poetry and early western music from his dad.

A few years ago, the two of them traveled to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV. Beau was deeply impacted by the contagious culture and community he felt there—he was even inspired to write his own poetry!

This inspiration also led him to help organize something similar a little closer to home. The Juab Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering is a two-day event held in Nephi, UT and features some of the best artists in the industry.

It’s all about the vinyl

Many people are into collecting vinyl these days. Beau has quite a collection of classic western records, mostly influenced by his dad’s favorites like Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings—just to name a few.

When we asked him what his ideal Saturday morning involves, he said, “A fresh pot of coffee, good breakfast food and listening to country records!”

Cowboy dreaming

When Beau looks down the road, he envisions himself living on a beautiful piece of land with stunning vista views and pastures full of horses and cattle. He’ll be surrounded by his family and maybe have some grandchildren running around. Of course, there will be plenty of cowboy food and BYU football!

Thanks for being such a wonderful member, Beau!