Grace E. (Sefton) Malcolm

Grace Sefton Malcolm passed from this life on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at the age of 90 in Houston, Texas.  Grace was born on the 28th of November 1932 to the late Wilma Stoup Sefton and Oscar Leyland Sefton.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Richard Simpson Malcolm, in 2001. Grace enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, having grown up on a farm near Saxonburg, Pennsylvania and carried her love of gardening and the outdoors all her life.   She was employed with Saxonburg Ceramics for 32 years and worked in sales where she met many who became lifelong friends. She was an active member of Bull Creek United Presbyterian Church until moving to Florida in 1994 where they became members of First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg.  She was a lifelong member of the Order of the Eastern Star.  The birth of her cherished grandson, Clayton Richard Ayers, in 1988 led her to retire and spend more time with her daughter, Melissa Malcolm Ayers, and beloved son-in-law, Brian Keith Ayers, first in Jackson, Mississippi and then on to Houston, Texas.  Helping others was always her priority and brought great joy to her.  After moving to St. Petersburg, Florida she volunteered tirelessly at All Childrens Hospital, another very rewarding part of her life. She always wanted to make a difference.   Grace and Richard enjoyed travelling the U.S. and the world, taking their grandson whenever possible.  She made countless wonderful memories, whether taking Clayton to Alaska and Yellowstone National Park or attending many sports and school events.   Her smile was always there and always contagious.  She was a perfect grandmother, seemingly born for the role, and took her son-in-law into her heart without reservation.  She was Melissa’s adoring mother and best friend.

Along with her daughter, Melissa (Brian) Ayers, grandson Clayton (Audrey) Ayers and two great grandsons, Theodore Brian Ayers and Nathaniel Oliver Ayers, all of Houston, Texas, Grace is survived by two sisters, Mary Jane (Edgar) McCollum of Portland, Oregon and Dorothy (Kenneth) Nolf of Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania.  Grace leaves behind loving nieces and nephews David (Ann) McCollum of Sommers, Connecticut; Linda (James) Trujillo of Portland, Oregon; Marsha McCollum of Houston, Texas; Jan (James) Ward of McKean, Pennsylvania; Judd (Sherry) Nolf of Sarver, Pennsylvania: Rev. R. Cameron (Laurie) Malcolm of Natrona Heights; Stewart (Susan) Malcolm of Natrona Heights and Ann Malcolm Kennedy of Powell, Ohio.

The family wishes to thank the Forum at Memorial Woods in Houston for their loving support for many years. A private graveside service will be held at Bull Creek United Presbyterian Church Cemetery. In keeping with Grace’s request, the best remembrance would be to help someone in need, making a difference. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the Dennis J. Daugherty Funeral Home, 324 Fourth Street, Freeport.

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