Maryellen (Swisher) HANNING BASHAM

BASHAM, SWISHER, HANNING, BRAGG, AGUILERA

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/18/2017 at 15:14:25

June 2, 1928 ---- April 16, 2017

Maryellen Basham, 88, of Clarion passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017 at her home surrounded by her family. Celebration of Life Services for Maryellen Basham will be held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion. A memorial gathering will be held Wednesday from 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM at the funeral home prior to the Celebration of Life Service.

Maryellen was born on June 2, 1928 in Otsego, Ohio to Charles and Sarah Swisher. She was a farm girl at heart and cherished many memories of her childhood as the youngest of 8 children. In high school she began writing a soldier boy, Thomas Hanning, whom she fell in love with and married at the age of 18 in Philo, Ohio. After 5 years, they moved to Southern California where she would reside until moving to Clarion, Iowa in 2011. During her 20 years of marriage to Tom, they had 5 children: Vance, Donna, Debi, Jayne and Jay.

Her dream of obtaining her G.E.D. finally came true at the age of 34. Shortly after receiving this, Maryellen became a certified C.N.A. and spent the next 28 years loving her job and caring for geriatric patients.

Anyone who ever crossed paths with Maryellen quickly learned of her love for journaling, writing, and poetry. During 3rd grade, her passion for writing began to develop and her mother became the first of 1000’s in Maryellen’s lifetime to receive her gift of poetry.

The past 6 years, Maryellen lived with her daughter Jayne, who was able to devote her time as being her caregiver. She needed Jayne as much as Jayne needed her. Moving to Clarion allowed her to be minutes from her youngest son, Jay, three of her grandchildren and their kids. She looked forward to family gatherings along with pop-in visits. Seeing her “babies” put a smile on her face.

Throughout Maryellen’s life, she struggled with many health issues. She was a cancer survivor and in the past few years dealt with the difficult stages of congestive heart failure. “I am not afraid of dying because I know where I’m going”. She believed those words. Daily you would find her spending time with her Savior; reading her Bible and singing her favorite hymns. Her faith and love for the Lord was something she enjoyed sharing with others. Heaven is her final home.

She is survived by 4 children: son, Vance Hanning of Mountain Home, Arkansas, daughter, Debi (Hank) Bragg of Mountain Home, Arkansas, daughter, Jayne Hanning of Clarion, Iowa & son, Jay Hanning of Clarion, Iowa; 7 grandchildren: Lisa (Marty), Amy (Stacy), Aaron (Valerie), Alison (Kevin), Alina (Joe), Sara and Anthony; 22 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild. Maryellen is also survived by extended family and numerous friends. She was preceded in death by her parents: Charles & Sara Swisher; daughter: Donna Aguilera and her 8 siblings.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the Clarion Hiz Kidz ministry, a children’s ministry dear to her heart.

http://www.ewingfh.com/obituaries/maryellen-basham/