Mary Frances Swafford

Mary Frances Swafford, age 87, of Dayton died at home Tuesday, October 2, 2007, while surrounded by her family. Mary Frances (Lee) Swafford was born in Pikeville on August 9, 1920, the daughter of the late Patrick F. and Lillian D. Lee and was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years C.P. Swafford, her son Phil Swafford, her brothers Dennis Lee, Howard Lee, and John Brown Lee. Mary Frances graduated with honors from Patten High School in Bledsoe County in 1937. She went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee Junior College at Martin, TN in 1939 and from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1941 with a degree in Home Economics.

She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. After graduating, she worked as a Home Demonstration Agent in Pulaski, TN. She was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Dayton, United Methodist Women, the Dayton Garden Club, and volunteered as a Gray Lady at Rhea Medical Center. Mary Frances is survived by her son, Sam (Cyndie) Swafford of Dayton; daughter-in-law, Pat Swafford Arnold of Dayton; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral Service for Mary Frances are being held Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. John Anderson and Nathan Parker officiating. Burial will be held in the Rhea Memory Gardens. The family will be served by the Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton where they will receive friends Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary Frances’ memory to the Prayer Room at the First United Methodist Church in Dayton or to Hospice Home Health Care of East Tennessee.