Funeral services for Mrs. Grace Malone, age 84, of the Long Branch Community of Panola County, Texas, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2009, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Ray Brooks officiating. Interment will follow in Bethlehem Cemetery in the Snap Community. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Mrs. Malone passed away on Tuesday morning, October 20, 2009, in Carthage.

Gracie Sue Cariker Malone was born on September 21, 1925, in the Long Branch Community to Otis and Sally Morris Cariker. She graduated from Carthage High School with the class of 1943. Mrs. Malone married Fred Otis Malone on July 17, 1943, in Clayton. She retired from the Long Branch Post Office as assistant post master. Mrs. Malone lived her lifetime in Panola County and was a member of the Long Branch Missionary Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Johnny Cariker; three sisters, Cecil Gossett, Louise Tompkins, and Martha Martin; one daughter, Betty Youngblood; and best friend Mrs. Ottie Reed.

Mrs. Malone is survived by her husband of 66 years, Fred Malone of Long Branch; one daughter, Beth Allums and husband Glen of Carthage; two brothers, Douglas Cariker and wife Merle of Carthage and Bobby Cariker and wife Suzanne of Carthage; two sisters, Faye Giles of Carthage and Mary Cooley and husband Gene of Carthage; two grandchildren, Shannon Henderson and husband Robert of Kilgore and Christie Nichols and husband Tommy of Carthage; and six great-grandchildren, Ashley, Cody, Remington, Mason, T.J., and Rhayne.

Serving as pallbearers are Robert Henderson, Tommy Nichols, James Macon, Cody Wilkerson, Remington Henderson, and T.J. Allums.

Serving as an honorary pallbearer is Mason Henderson.

If desired, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.