SWANT, Frances 1908-2002

SWANT, STAHL, SCHAEFER

Posted By: Floyd Co. coordinator
Date: 9/14/2002 at 03:48:22

Frances Swant, 93, formerly of Marble Rock, died Tuesday (Feb. 5, 2002) at the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the United Methodist Church at Marble Rock with Pastor Marge Bradshaw and Arlene Carney officiating. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Reid's Funeral Home in Marble Rock.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa, 232 Second St. S.E., Mason City, IA 50401, or to the family.

Frances was born July 7, 1908, in Marble Rock to Charles and Lina (Stahl) Schaefer. Her father died when she was 13 and in 1923 her mother married Christian Schaefer, a cousin of Charles. With this marriage, she gained two stepsisters, Hilda and Doris, and one stepbrother, Emery.

Frances graduated from Marble Rock High School and then attended and graduated from Iowa State Teachers College. She was united in marriage to Cecil Swant and to this union one daughter, Betty Jeanne, was born. Frances did some teaching, worked in the Post Office at Marble Rock, was a bookkeeper at the Cartersville Elevator and was a homemaker. She liked to travel and had traveled to many different states and countries.

When young, Frances attended church at Flood Creek, but had been a long time member of the United Methodist Church at Marble Rock, where she took part in all aspects of the church but she was especially noted and devoted to the many years spent in teaching her Sunday School class.

In 1988, Frances moved to Mason City and was a long time resident of The Manor where she had many friends. After moving to Mason City, she became involved in doing volunteer work. She did a variety of things but her special interest was in volunteering at the Good Shepherd Health Center. She worked there until Nov. 1, 1998, when she was past 90 years of age. In November of 2001, Hospice of North Iowa began helping with her care. Both the Good Shepherd Health Center and Hospice of North Iowa have wonderful caretakers and the family of Frances are deeply indebted to them and grateful for the excellent care they rendered.

Frances is survived by her daughter and son-in-law (more like a son), Betty and Don Harms of Marble Rock; two grandsons, Steve Harms and wife, Louise, of Chicago, Ill., Dennis Harms and wife, Randi, of Waco, Tex.; one granddaughter, Doni (Harms) Parker, of Clear Lake; three great-grandsons, Jason Parker and wife, Karla, of Mason City, James Parker of Clear Lake, Zachary Harms of Waco, Tex.; two great-granddaughters, Stefanie (Harms) Martin and her husband, Tyler, of China Springs, Tex., and Heather Harms of Waco, Tex.; one step great-granddaughter, Melissa Freedman of San Marcos, Tex.; one very special great-great-grandson, Carson Parker, of Mason City and one expected great-great granchild, "Baby" Parker. She is also survived by one step-niece, Joy (Hansen) Taylor and husband, John; and step nephews, Marvin Wilson and wife, Rana, Dwayne Hansen and wife, Darlene, Norman Hansen and wife, Helena, Harlan Hansen and wife, Virginia, Ron Hansen and wife, Marj, Donald Schaefer and wife, Mary, Roger Schaefer and wife, Mary, Elwyn Schaefer and wife, Marilyn, Harvey Schaefer and wife, Iola, and numerous cousins and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil, in 1980, her parents and step-father; two step-sisters, Hilda Wilson and Doris Hansen and step-brother, Emery Schaefer.

Reid Funeral Home, (641) 397-2689.