Leora E. Swanson
September 19, 1912 — March 16, 2006
Leora E Swanson, 93, of Earlville, died Thursday, March 16, 2006, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, following a short illness.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 20, 2006, at the Earlville United Parish in Earlville with Rev. Ross Wyman officiating. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the Clifton-Murdoch Funeral Home in Earlville and one hour before services on Monday at the church. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Earlville.
Leora was born in Exeter, MO to Jess M. and Palma L. (Peterson) Smith on September 19, 1912. She grew up in the Sloan, Iowa area, graduating from Sloan High School in 1930. Leora attended Wayne State College and taught country school for several years in the Sloan area. February 27, 1937 Leora was married to Leonard T. Swanson at Hornick, Iowa. They had two daughters, Leah Gayle and Lora Lee (Lorie). The couple farmed near Sloan before moving to their Moville farm in 1947. Leora and Leonard were married 53 years. Together they loved to garden, entertain, read, play cards and travel. Leonard died April 7, 1990.
Leora was the first woman director of Moville School District #2. She was Superintendent and Sunday school teacher to many children in Sloan and Moville. Leora was instrumental in organizing the first Woodbury County and Moville PTA?s, in which she served as President. Leora was a 59-year member of the Moville United Methodist Church and a friend of the Earlville United Parish. She was a member of United Methodist Women, Federated Women, and EOT Clubs. Leora volunteered for the American Cancer Society and was herself a 49-year cancer survivor. She published her Smith Genealogy in 1981. Leora was devoted to family and friends and was known for her beautiful letters, prayers and kindnesses. In later years, Leora lived in Earlville while maintaining her Moville farm.
Leora is survived by her daughter, Lorie (Bill) Bramley of Earlville; two grandchildren, Todd (Kathy) Bramley of Albuquerque, NM and Tara (Matt) Malin of Marion; four great-grandsons, Alec, Shane, & Conor Bramley and Grayson Malin; two sisters, Lavonne Irwin of Tucson, AZ and Margaret Schaefer of Gustine, CA; a brother, Robert (Dot) Smith of Riverbank, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Leora was preceded in death by her parents, Jess & Palma Smith; her husband, Leonard Swanson; a daughter, Leah Gayle Alexander in 1964; and three sisters, Irene Beem, Harriet Pullen and Clara Jane Pullen.
Memorials may be directed to the Moville United Methodist Church or the Earlville United Parish.
Condolences accepted and information at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 20, 2006, at the Earlville United Parish in Earlville with Rev. Ross Wyman officiating. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the Clifton-Murdoch Funeral Home in Earlville and one hour before services on Monday at the church. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Earlville.
Leora was born in Exeter, MO to Jess M. and Palma L. (Peterson) Smith on September 19, 1912. She grew up in the Sloan, Iowa area, graduating from Sloan High School in 1930. Leora attended Wayne State College and taught country school for several years in the Sloan area. February 27, 1937 Leora was married to Leonard T. Swanson at Hornick, Iowa. They had two daughters, Leah Gayle and Lora Lee (Lorie). The couple farmed near Sloan before moving to their Moville farm in 1947. Leora and Leonard were married 53 years. Together they loved to garden, entertain, read, play cards and travel. Leonard died April 7, 1990.
Leora was the first woman director of Moville School District #2. She was Superintendent and Sunday school teacher to many children in Sloan and Moville. Leora was instrumental in organizing the first Woodbury County and Moville PTA?s, in which she served as President. Leora was a 59-year member of the Moville United Methodist Church and a friend of the Earlville United Parish. She was a member of United Methodist Women, Federated Women, and EOT Clubs. Leora volunteered for the American Cancer Society and was herself a 49-year cancer survivor. She published her Smith Genealogy in 1981. Leora was devoted to family and friends and was known for her beautiful letters, prayers and kindnesses. In later years, Leora lived in Earlville while maintaining her Moville farm.
Leora is survived by her daughter, Lorie (Bill) Bramley of Earlville; two grandchildren, Todd (Kathy) Bramley of Albuquerque, NM and Tara (Matt) Malin of Marion; four great-grandsons, Alec, Shane, & Conor Bramley and Grayson Malin; two sisters, Lavonne Irwin of Tucson, AZ and Margaret Schaefer of Gustine, CA; a brother, Robert (Dot) Smith of Riverbank, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Leora was preceded in death by her parents, Jess & Palma Smith; her husband, Leonard Swanson; a daughter, Leah Gayle Alexander in 1964; and three sisters, Irene Beem, Harriet Pullen and Clara Jane Pullen.
Memorials may be directed to the Moville United Methodist Church or the Earlville United Parish.
Condolences accepted and information at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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