Enid, OK — A celebration of Life memorial service for Verna L. Swaim, 88, of Enid, will be 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, at First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Roy Schneider officiating. A private family graveside service will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. Services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home.
Verna was born Aug. 18, 1921, in Crescent, Okla., the daughter of Claude W. and Minnie Ruth Hamlin Myers and died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at The Commons in Enid, Okla.
She was raised and educated in Crescent, graduating from Crescent High School. Verna graduated from Central State Uni-versity with a B.S. de-gree. She took graduate courses at Oklahoma State University.
She married Melvin H. Swaim in Crescent, Okla., on Feb. 3, 1944. He preceded her in death on May 2, 1979.
They lived in Marshall for 15 years, where she taught school. She also taught in Deer Creek, Jones and Crescent, Okla. In 1967, they moved to Enid, where she taught first and second grade students at Glenwood School, retiring in 1986 after 39 years of teaching. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she was a deacon, Steven Minister and was moderator of the Presbyterian Women’s Association. Verna was a member of Garfield County Retired Teachers Associa-tion, Eastern Star, Chapter 164 of Guthrie, former member of Delta Kappa Gamma and Beta Sigma Phi and served as a literacy council tutor. She was a member of OEA and NEA. Verna enjoyed reading, flower gardening, feeding and watching birds.
Verna is survived by daughter, Shirla and husband Stas Loutas of Casper, Wyo.; granddaughter, Stephanie Loutas of Casper, Wyo.; one sister, Margaret Lovelace of Plaquemine, La.; brother-in-law, Jacob Amberg of Cushing, Okla.; companion, Charles Waken of Enid; and numerous nieces and nephews and many devoted friends.
Verna was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin; her parents; and two sisters, Cula Mae Short and Dean Amberg; and nephew, Scott Short.
Memorials may be made in Verna’s memory to First Presbyterian Church, Saturday Manna, or charity of donor’s choice with Brown-Cummings Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.
Condolences may be made to the family online at brown-cummings.com.
(Paid Obit 11-24-1)
