Mary Swihart

Mary Cole Swihart, age 100 and a lifelong resident of eastern Jackson County died on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012 at her niece’s home in Lee’s Summit, MO. A visitation will be held Friday evening at Carson-Speaks Chapel, 1501 W. Lexington Avenue, Independence, from 6:00 to 8:00. A service will be held Saturday at 10:00 at the chapel, with burial at the Blue Springs Cemetery. Mary Elizabeth Cole was born July 20, 1911 to James Wiley and Jimmie Waters Cole on the family farm on Crackerneck Road, then two miles outside of Independence, MO. She lived almost a century on the same property, within sight of her birthplace; the farm having been in her family since the 1830’s. Her ancestors were among the first residents of Jackson County, settling here as early as 1822, and assisting in the founding of Independence. As a girl, Mary attended the Pleasant Grove School and was also taught by her parents the value of hard work. She began working on the farm when just a small child, graduated to field work when she was eleven, and continued to work the rest of her life until slowed by a stroke at the age of 99. She never really retired. In 1935 she married a neighbor boy, Wayne Swihart, and they had 44 years together, mostly spent in a house they built on the “home place”, before his death in 1979. Besides maintaining her home and garden, Mary served in the laundry and other roles at Drumm Farm, between 1936 and 1946. She later spent many years as clerk and head bookkeeper for Suburban Propane Gas and head bookkeeper for NAPA Automotive Parts in Independence. Using the sewing skills she learned at home, Mary also worked for DuValls Clothing Store on the Independence Square making alterations. Still later, she helped family members manage a series of apartment complexes and also a small motel chain, working with bookkeeping and filing in her 80’s and 90’s. Although having no children of her own, Mary was intensely devoted to her family, caring for her parents in their final years and also helping to raise several great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Jessie Brown and Velma Hibner. She is survived by her nephew, R.J. Brown of Blue Springs; niece MaryJane of Lee’s Summit, MO; niece Irma Thomas of Independence; and several great and great-great nephews and nieces.