Gloria Ann Swift of Wheatland, passed on Sunday September 22, 2024.
Born on Sunday January 3, 1937 to Faye (Profit) and Paul Jennings Jackson in Pekin, Illinois, Gloria had a happy childhood during which she was doted on by her parents, grandparents, and her mother’s sisters. She spent summers with her grandparents and her second cousin, Joyce. Gloria and Joyce enjoyed their many adventures, often pulling pranks on their older cousins designed specifically to get them in trouble.
After graduating high school in 1955, Gloria decided to attend a women’s college called Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri where she studied education. After graduating with her associates in 1957, Gloria went to Northwest Missouri State College in Maryville.
It was there that she met a science student named John Swift. The two of them fell in love and after she received her bachelor’s degree, the two married on July 25, 1959. While living in Missouri, they had the first of their three children, Dwight, and then moved to Pekin, Illinois where they had a daughter, Paula Ann, and finally bought a house in Morton where they had their third child, John Darwin.
Gloria loved to sew and would regularly make her children clothing and quilts before she went back to teaching while her children were in middle school. Gloria became a beloved kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Elementary in Morton, Illinois, where she taught until she retired in 2005 and then she and her husband moved to Wheatland.
Both before retirement and after it, she and her husband loved traveling the country frequently. Once their eldest grandchild, Olivia Faye, was born, they brought her and their daughter on some of their adventures across the country. Along with many visits to see their grandchildren in Colorado Springs and Virginia, among other states exploring what these places had to offer.
Their travels went from Gettysburg and the Stanley Hotel to Las Vegas and Disneyland. If anyone ever asked, Gloria would always say that her favorite trip was to Coronado Beach where she stayed in the Hotel Del Coronado.
Gloria was a loving and creative woman with a quick wit and a love of gift shopping. She never missed a loved one’s birthday, anniversary, or special life event—even if it was only a card and phone call. She was a member of the philanthropic educational organization, PEO Sisterhood, for nearly 65 years. She felt very strongly that women should always receive higher education and that everyone should finish dinner with a dessert.
She is preceded in death by her parents: Faye and Paul; four aunts: Beulah, Maxine, Allene, and Doris; husband, John; cousins; beloved sister-in-law, Etta Marie (Swift) Swanson and her husband, Merrill; and nephew, Kevin.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Paula Ann (Salt Lake City) and Dwight (Colorado Springs) and John Darwin (Bethesda); five grandchildren: Olivia Faye (Salt Lake City), Rebecca (Denver), Cecelia (Bethesda), Ava (Bethesda), and Maxwell (Bethesda); cousin, Joyce (Independence); niece, Nancy (Quincy); two great nephews and Cottey sisters Barbara and Dee.
There will be a Graveside service on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at the Wheatland Cemetery with Pastor Chis Furl officiating. We would like to express our thanks to the staff of Life Care Center of Colorado Springs and the wonderful care providers at Penrose Hospital for the loving care that that gave our mother and to us through this difficult time. In lieu of flowers we ask for donation In Gloria Ann Swift’s name to Cottey College, 1000 W Austin Blvd, Nevada, Missouri 64772.
Gorman Funeral Homes - Platte Chapel is in charge of the services.
Condolences can be left for the family at www.gormanfh.com
