N. Swaney

Marie Swaney, 92, passed away peacefully at home in rural Havana, Kansas on February 19, 2022 with her children by her side.  She was born Nellie Marie Pond to Reuben Arch and Nellie Almeda (Wilson) Pond on March 3, 1929 in Independence, Kansas.

She grew up in Caney and Independence attending McKinley Elementary in Caney through fifth grade and graduated from Independence High School in 1947 and then Independence Community Junior College in 1949. She attended summer school at Emporia State Teachers College from 1950 – 1955.

Growing up she really enjoyed spending the summers with her grandparents Joseph and Dosha Wilson in the Coffeyville, Kansas and Wann, Oklahoma areas eating fresh tomatoes right out of the garden and milking the cows with her grandfather.

After graduating from the Junior College she started a teaching career at the James School southwest of Coffeyville.  It was a two-room school where she taught the fifth through eighth grades for one year. She next taught first through fourth grades at the Hillsdale School east of Sedan, Kansas, another two-room country school, through the spring of 1953 where she met her future husband.  Her next stop was at Niotaze teaching seventh and eighth grades for one year.  She finished her teaching career with the fourth grade at Caney from the fall of 1954 through the spring of 1956, leaving to raise her family.  She always said she liked teaching fourth grade the best.

Marie married Donald R. Swaney in Bentonville, Arkansas on February 14, 1953.  They were married for 53 years and made their home in Havana before moving to the family farm northwest of Havana in 1961.  She loved crocheting and made many afghans, doilies, and baby outfits for family and friends.  After Donald’s death in 2006 she continued raising cattle and enjoying life on the farm.

She is survived by a son Greg Swaney (Michelle) of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, daughter Donna Swaney-Voss (K.C.) of Oakland, Nebraska, grandson Justin Swaney (Mary Morgan) of Plano, Texas, great-grandson Max Swaney of Plano, Texas, one brother Joseph Pond of Cleveland, Missouri and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, a brother Leroy Pond, and grandson Nathaniel Swaney.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at Potts Chapel, 107 N. State St. Caney, Kansas with interment to follow at the Havana Cemetery.  The family will receive friends on Monday, February 28 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

For those who may wish to send a memorial, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to the Friends of Frank Phillips Home, 1107 S. Cherokee, Bartlesville, OK  74003.