SWIHART, Clara Agnes BARNHART 1920 - 2024

SWIHART, BARNHART, ROACH, SHIELDS, LEE

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 10/27/2024 at 14:00:36

"Southeast Iowa Union / Fairfield Ledger"
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Page 4, Column 1

CLARA AGNES BARNHART SWIHART
Fairfield

Clara Agnes BARNHART SWIHART made her transition from this life on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at Prestige Care enter in Fairfield, Iowa. As were her wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration or her life (sic) will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions in Clara's honor may be directed to Teena ROUSH and mailed c/o Cranston Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Fairfield, IA 52556. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Clara was born the year women were granted the right to vote: February 19, 1920, to Charles Edward and Winnie Mae (ROACH) BARNHART in Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Her siblings were Clarence, Evertt, Faye, Doris, (Agnes), Clifford and Ralph.

Agnes spent her later years in Batavia and then the Fairfield area the last five years of her life.

From her marriages Agnes had 8 children. Sadly 6 of her children, Joyce, Larry, Rita, Tony, Cheryl and Baby Mathew, have passed.

In addition, daughters-in-law Dixie, Donna, and son-in-law, Bob are gone. Grandsons Brad, Marty, Robbie, Jay, Earnie, Clinton and great-grandson Zac have passed. Agnes is survived by son William (Bill) Randolph SHIELDS, grandson, Christopher LEE from Fairfield, Iowa and daughter Teena Marie ROUSH from Newton, Iowa.

Not mentioned are numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. There is an estimate of 27 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, and 64 great-great-grandchildren.

Raised on a farm, Agnes learned to appreciate the value of growing good food that later she provided her family with organic gardens. She instilled family traditions of being with family for the holidays. Grandchild Ashly said she would never forget "the Easter Egg hunts at Grandma's." Agnes remembered her soft-spoken father drove horses from Omaha to their home south of Mt. Ayr to be used on the farms once they were "broke." She kept a vision of these horses running across the land before being corralled.

During the stock market crash of 1929, the family lost all of their farms/farmland but one. In 1935 Agnes worked in Mt. Ayr, Iowa at a WPA (Work Progress Administration) factory with her mom where they made mattresses. To assist in the war effort during WWII for four years, Agnes worked as a "Grease Monkey" at Solar Aircraft in Des Moines, Iowa (later known as Des Moines Tech) where they made manifolds for U.S. Military aircraft engines.

Agnes loved the old country music that kept in step with her organic values of how she treated others was the same manner she wanted to be treated. She loved life and people.

Mom could be quite funny. She came to our family reunion dressed as Phyilis Diller just to surprise one of her nephews. Another time for a family gathering she was asked what she was cooking on the stove. She dipped into the large pot and pulled out a large stone when she said, "Mulligan Stew!" In all her years she was never heard to laugh so hard.

When asked how does one live to be of her age of 104, Agnes remarked "Keep God close and start each day anew." Some say a window was opened the evening she made her transition so that her soul could fly to heaven.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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