Edna Mae Porter Sefton, age 93, passed away peacefully at the Flora Gardens Care Center in Flora, IL, on Monday, May 2, 2016.  The daughter of Jessie Mae Daugherty and David Christian Porter, Edna Mae was born in Louisville, IL, on October 12, 1922.  She attended elementary and high school in Louisville and there developed a lifelong penchant for math.  Upon high school graduation, Edna went to work at the Flora Shoe Factory.

     At age 24, on December 6, 1946, Edna eloped to marry Byron Sefton; on the eve of her marriage, her giggling siblings informed her father, Dave, of the reason for Edna’s absence.  Edna and Byron raised three children during their twenty-year marriage.  When Byron died in 1966, Edna continued to run the family farm alongside her son, Phil.

     During her long life, Edna found pleasure in many pastimes—scratch cooking, eating, reading, puzzling, gardening, watching sports, debating politics, traveling, talking, and babysitting her grandkids.  She was first baptized and taught Sunday school at Red Brush Christian Church, later became a long-term member of Bethel Christian Church, and—in more recent years—enjoyed church services at her assisted living facility.  A tough cookie, Edna persevered through migraines, high blood pressure, elderly onset leukemia, diverticulitis, arthritis, numerous falls, and the use of the wheelchair she dubbed “The Chariot.”

     Preceding her in death were her parents, David and Jessie Porter; husband, Byron Sefton; siblings—sister Caroline Canny and brothers Herschel, Jason, Henry, Dewey, and (infant) Woodrow Porter; eight sisters- and brothers-in-law, and many close neighbors and friends.  She is survived by one sister-in-law, Bernita Porter; three children—Phil Sefton (Kathy) of Xenia, IL, Janis Hubble (Steve) of Meridian, ID, and Mary Saras (Paul) of Boise, ID; five grandchildren—Jeremy Sefton of Xenia, IL, Shelli Slifer (Chris) of Mode, IL, Brock McKinnon (Jena) of Naperville, IL, and Morgan and Maggie Saras of Boise, ID; seven great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

     Funeral services for Edna will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2016, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora with Pastor Bruce Horsley officiating and a eulogy shared by Dan McKinney.  Visitation will directly precede the funeral service from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.  Burial will follow in Oskaloosa Cemetery.

     Edna’s family would like to thank her caregivers for providing such loving assistance: Flora Gardens Care Center, the Clay County Health Department Hospice program, Heritage Woods Assisted Living facility, and Edna’s personal caregivers—Tammy Griffith and Velda Lambrich.  A special thank you goes to Kathy Sefton, Edna’s daughter-in-law, for Kathy’s many devoted years of caring for Edna.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be donated to Oil Belt Christian Service Camp; donation envelopes will be accepted at the funeral home.  To share a condolence or memory with the family, visit www.frankandbright.com.