“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116:15

Mary Ellen Grafton, 87, of Steubenville, Ohio was ushered into the presence of the Lord on Thursday, August 13, 2026 to forever be with her precious Jesus whom she loved so dearly.

Mary Ellen was born on August 4, 1939, the only child of Mary Elizabeth Staley, in Valencia, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Mars High School in Mars, PA in 1957, and obtained her RN from Allegheny General Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh in 1960.

She married Lee Vernon Grafton on July 28, 1961 and they spent forty-four years together before his death in 2005.

Within a month after their marriage, Lee was drafted again into the US Army due to the Cuban Missile Crisis and her first year was spent as an Army wife at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After his time of service, they returned to live on the family farm and raised the four children with whom they were blessed.

Mary Ellen worked as a nurse at the former Ohio Valley Hospital in Steubenville, becoming a Head Nurse on the Third Women’s Unit, then became a Nursing Supervisor.

After she retired from nursing, she was able to babysit her grandsons as well as many other children of friends and family and was affectionately known as “Mummum”.

Mom was the consummate farm wife. She actively participated in the farm operations from doing the barn work, to birthing pigs, to driving the tractor and wrapping round bales.

She spent her life playing piano and organ for many area church services including Finley Methodist, Steubenville Church of the Nazarene, Pleasant Hill Baptist, Steubenville First Christian, and Bell Chapel Methodist. She also provided music for scores of weddings, funerals, nursing homes, etc. in the area and beyond. Her special touch brought a deep sense of worship of the Lord whenever she played.

Mary Ellen was a member of the former Steubenville Church of the Nazarene where she served as the Adult Sunday School Teacher, church steward, and World Missions President as well as providing music for the services. She was actively involved in the Jefferson County Farm Bureau where she served for many years as the Promotion and Education Chairman.

She was also a volunteer for Edison Local Schools, working with the reading program at Pleasant Hill School, the levy renewal committee and playing for Baccalaureate at Edison High School.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her loving husband, Lee, her mother Mary, her grandparents, Harvey & Nora Staley, and her son-in-law, Mark Sargeant.

She is survived by her children, Ellen Ruth Swickard (Fred Stine) of Toronto, Lee V. Grafton Jr. of Steubenville, Emilee Hope (Cliff) Wood of Bloomingdale, and Joy Lynne (Jim) Clements of Wintersville She is also survived by her grandsons, Lee V. Grafton III, James D. (Rachel) Wood, and Troy A. Sargeant, her six great-grandchildren, Autumn and Kaylee Grafton, Evangeline, Noah, Malachi, and Matthieu Wood, and “bonus grandkids” Madison Moore Walker, and Will and Gianna Earley.

Friends and family will be received at Dunlope-Shorac Funeral Home in Wintersville on Thursday from 3 – 8 p.m.

On Friday, friends may call at Bell Chapel Methodist Church from 10 am until time of service at 11 am. The service will be conducted by Pastor Tommy Mills, Rev, Gary Lemasters, and Rev. Gary Hallberg. Burial will be at Richmond Union Cemetery, Richmond, OH.

Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Jefferson County Christian School, 125 Fernwood Road, Wintersville, OH 43953