Mary Garland (SWAIM) RISSER

COLEMAN, SWAIN, RISSER, PITZ

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/2/2009 at 21:48:01

OBITUARY - Mary Garland (SWAIM) RISSER

Mary Garland RISSER was born September 25, 1920 to Floyd and Laneta (COLEMAN) SWAIN in Taylor County, south of Bedford, Iowa. She attended county school and high school in Bedford, Iowa. Mary taught the same country school she attended as a child.

On July 5, 1939 she was united in marriage to Leland Dean RISSER at Plattsmouth, Nebraska. They started farming south of Bedford, Iowa. In 1945 they left the farm when Dean was inducted in the Navy. Mary went with Dean and lived in Kenasha, Wisconsin, while Dean was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Base. On his discharge they returned to Bedford and later to Diagonal where they were in the hatchery business. Later her husband Dean worked as a postal carrier out of Diagonal Post Office and Mary was a substitute. When her husband, Dean passed away she began working as a cook at the Diagonal School. She worked there for 18 years. She also helped in the concession stand at the school for a number of years.

She was a Past Noble Grand of the Rebekah Lodge of Diagonal; a 50 year member of the Eastern Star and a 50 year member of the American Legion Aux. of Diagonal. She held most of the offices in the Aux. For 15 years she worked for the March of Dimes.

Mary had two sons, Robert Ronnie, November 20, 1941 who died at birth and Robert Joe born June 24, 1951.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, her brother, Joe SWAIM and wife Irene, and one nephew, Marvin SWAIM.

She is survived by her son Robert Joe and wife, Kay of Murray, Iowa and two grandchildren, Courtney of Oak Island, North Carolina and granddaughter, Lori and husband Kevin PITZ of Farley, Iowa.

Services were held Saturday, December 16, 2006 at the United Church of Diagonal in Diagonal, Iowa, with burial at Hopkins Cemetery in Hopkins, Missouri.