Elma Kirkpatrick Malmo
Elma Kirkpatrick Malmo, 92, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died November 28th after a brief illness. She was born in Owensboro, Kentucky and moved to Ripley, Tennessee. Her family later moved to Memphis and she graduated from Miss Hutchison’s School. She attended Stephens College and the University of Kentucky, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority.
She married Donald Malmo and raised three adoring children. They were early members of Church of the Holy Communion where she served on the altar guild and various other committees. Elma was one of the original members of Lebonheur Club and sewed clothes and toys for the Bunny Room for a number of years.
Elma was known as the “orchid lady” on Yates Road, where she raised orchids that she made into corsages for her children’s friends. She loved woodworking and she and her best friend, Fifi Haverty, made Christmas ornaments for family and friends into their 90s. They also created a new mascot in the 70s for White Station High School and painted it on the floor of the Spartan Palace. Affectionately known as Grandmommy, she attended every function in which any grandchild participated. Elma loved to entertain at her home, whether a wedding or holiday party, and hosted an annual New Year’s Day open house for over 50 years. She and Don were members of Chickasaw Country Club and enjoyed entertaining their family at holidays there.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and Thompson Kirkpatrick, her sister, Margaret Osoinach, her brother, Robert Kirkpatrick, and her loving husband of 68 years, Donald Malmo.
She is survived by her son Donald A. “Andy” Malmo, Jr. (Nancy), her daughter Beth Malmo Carr (Victor), her daughter Murrey Malmo Watkins; six grandchildren, Donald “Donnie” Malmo III (Elizabeth), Roger Kirkpatrick “Kirk” Malmo (Sydney), Sarah Rose Watkins, Jace Watkins, David Watkins, Jr., Elizabeth Carr Rudolph (Myers); and 3 great-grandchildren.
Services will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, December 6th at Church of the Holy Communion. A reception will be held at the Cheney Parish Hall immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Lebonheur Club, 1047 Cresthaven, Memphis, TN 38119, or Church of the Holy Communion/ the Don and Elma Malmo Memorial Garden and Columbarium Fund.