Mrs. Grace Vaughan Ayres, 85, of Onley, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.
Born on April 28, 1940, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Grace was the daughter of William Jefferson Vaughan and Alice Belote Vaughan.
Grace was a woman who found comfort and fulfillment in a simple, peaceful life. She cherished quiet moments and never felt the need to rush or impress — she moved through the world gently with an appreciation for small joys. Her beloved cat, Brandy, was her constant companion, and together they spent countless hours creating beautiful, intricate hooked rugs filled with color and warmth. Grace also loved tending her flowers, losing herself in the calm rhythm of gardening, or curling up with a good book at the end of the day.
Though she enjoyed solitude, Grace’s deepest joy came from motherhood. She adored her daughter, Mary Alice, and carried her memory tenderly in her heart after her passing in 2008.
Grace is survived by her dear friends, Beverly Almond, of Unionville, Tommy Evans, of Onley, and Beverly Phillips, of Onley.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jeff and Alice Vaughan, and her treasured daughter, Mary Alice Ayres.
Funeral services for Grace will be conducted graveside at Onancock Cemetery on Friday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m., with Pastor John Burr officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Grace’s name to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), 1255 23rd St. NW, Suite 450, Washington, D.C., 20037 (http://www.humanesociety.org/donate) or to Riverside Shore Cancer Center, P.O. Box 430, Onancock, VA 23417.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at
www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements are by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.
