Grace Nellie (Swearingen) Young Rankin Smith (1985)
FIFE, MCMILLAN, NICOSON, RANKIN, SMITH, SWEARINGEN, YOUNG
Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 5/16/2016 at 10:33:23
Bedford Times-Press
Bedford, Iowa
Thursday, March 7, 1985Grace Rankin Smith, 101, services held
Funeral services for Grace Rankin Smith, 101, longtime resident of Bedford were held at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home on March 1 and were conducted by Rev. Carl Cummings. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery. She had been a resident of Bedford Manor since June 1972. Mrs. Smith died Feb. 25, 1985 at Rosary Hospital in Corning.
Grace Rankin Smith was born March 30, 1883 to Daniel Swearingen and Nancy Fine Swearingen on a farm near Truro, Iowa in Madison County.
She grew to maturity in the area where she was born where she attended the public school and the Christian Church. Later she joined the United Methodist Church where she has been a member for well over 60 years.
In September 1906 she was united in marriage to Frank O. Rankin at Des Moines, Iowa and they lived in Truro until 1920 when they moved to Gravity, Iowa to operate a general store. A few years later they moved to Bedford where they owned and operated the Rankin Shoe Store. Mr. Rankin passed away in 1954 after they were privileged to share 48 years together.
Three children were born to this union: two sons, Dale and Claude and a daughter Phyllis. She also shared a mother's love with two stepchildren, Garry and Geraldine.
On February 11, 1962 she was united in marriage to Willard H. Smith of Bedford and they enjoyed their home together until his death in April 1963. She enjoyed Willard's children and their families. Also preceding her in death were her two sons, Dale and Claude; a stepson Garry Rankin and a grandson, Frank "Doc" McMillan.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Phyllis McMillan of Bedford; a step daughter Geraldine Nicoson of Iowa City, Iowa and two daughters-in-law, Marjorie Rankin of Bedford and Blanche Rankin of Omaha, Nebraska. She was proud of her family of five living generations, which included twelve grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and nine great great grandchildren and she enjoyed the many visits with all of her family and friends.
She had been a resident of Bedford Manor since June of 1972 and her family and friends will remember her with many loving and precious memories.
_____________________Transcriber's note: Per Madison County Marriage Records, the deceased was first married to Fred E. Young and her mother's maiden name was "Fife" rather than "Fine".
Gravesite
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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