Mary Elizabeth (Lodge) Swafford (1849-1929)

LODGE, SWAFFORD, MILLER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal July 15, 1929 (page 4)

MRS. SWAFFORD WAS LAID TO REST

AGED PIONEER INTERRED IN NEVADA CEMETERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Funeral services for Mrs. Elizabeth Swafford, 80, longtime resident of Nevada who died at her home here early Friday were held Sunday afternoon at Central Presbyterian church after which interment was n the family lot in the Nevada cemetery, by the side her husband, the late Homer L. Swafford, who died 13 years ago. The sermon was by Rev. W. O. Benthin pastor of that church, the music was by a mixed quartette and the flowers were in charge of ladies of the Presbyterian aid, of which she had been a member.

Mrs. Swafford had spent most of the time for the past two years with her daughter, Mrs. Miller in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She with Mrs. Miller and the latter's daughter had returned her but two weeks ago and had become settled with her son Fred and family in the old family homestead. But a few days ago all of the children with the exception of the son Home, had been at home for a brief family reunion.

Her return "home" but a few days before her sudden death, recalls similar conditions surrounding the passing of the husband. It was thirteen years ago that Mr. and Mrs. Swafford had returned to Nevada after a temporary residence in Chicago, and had been settled but a week, when death overtook the husband.

All of the children were here for the funeral services Sunday, the son Homer arriving from his home at Sapulpa, Okla., the evening before. The son Harry who had been here the week before made a hurried trip back here from LaGrange, Ill., and the son Burt, who with his wife had been out from their home in Brooklyn, were at Sioux City when the summons reached them.

Mary Elizabeth Lodge-Swafford was a native of Lisbon, Ohio, where she was born November 13, 1850. She was but about eight years of age when the family came to Iowa and settled at Iowa City and there she grew to young womanhood and was united in marriage to Homer Louis Swafford in 1869.

Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Swafford came to Nevada and here their older children were born and they continued to reside until 1886, when they moved to Hull, up in Sioux county. There they remained until 1900, when they returned to Nevada and Mr. Swafford again engaged in the lumber trade.

Shortly preceding his death 13 years ago, Mr. Swafford retried from active life and they had spent a short time with their children in Chicago, before returning to Nevada just previous to his death. Since the death of Mr. Swafford she had divided the time between her home in Nevada and her children in Chicago and Oklahoma, spending much of the time during the winter with the daughter Leona Miller, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

She had not bee well for some time and it was her great desire to get back home in Nevada for the summer and possibly to spend her last days.

She leaves five sons, they being Harry L. of LaGrange, Ill., Burt W. of Brooklyn, N. Y.; Homer C. of Sapulpa, Okla.; Karyl B. of Chicago and Fred W. of Nevada. The one daughter is Mrs. Leona Miller of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She also leaves ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Mrs. Swafford had long been a member of the local W. R. C., was a charter member of the local Rebekah lodge, and a member of Central Presbyterian church and its auxiliary organizations. She had been a member of the church for sixty years, being one of the oldest in the congregation in point of years and service.