Obituary for Mary Swinford

Ponca City Now - October 31, 2017 10:29 am

Mary Opal Swinford

May 20, 1933 – October 29, 2017

Mary Opal Edgin Swinford passed away October 29, 2017 in Ponca City.

Opal was born May 20, 1933 in Ozark, Arkansas to Nathan and Carrie Edgin. One of seven children, Opal lived and attended school in Ozark until she turned 18. She then moved to Ponca City to live with her sister to find work. Then in 1953 she met and married Harold Swinford. They made their family here in Ponca City. She was a homemaker for the first many years of the marriage.

In 1970 she decided to learn how to drive and went to school to become a nurse’s aide. She then began working at St. Joseph’s Hospital and loved every minute of it. She was loving, caring, compassionate, and very loyal to her clients. She later started doing private sitting for families around town. She treated and thought of them all as extended family. She did this until 2005 when her health would no longer allow it.

Opal is preceded in death by her parents, husband Harold, brothers, Ray Edgin, Douglas Edgin, Herman Edgin, Thurman Edgin, one sister Dorothy Mackey, son Floyd Swinford and wife Roxy, Sam Swinford and wife Merlene, son-in-law Dale Costello, granddaughter Brandi Swinford and special sister-in-law Della Sebor.

She is survived by daughters, Celeste Givens of Tulsa and Brenda Costello of Ponca City, son, Ray Swinford and wife Kathy of Ponca City, one brother, Eugene Edgin and wife JoAnn of California, MO, grandchildren, Jeremy Swinford of Ponca City, Daniel Swinford and wife Carrie of Ponca City, Carrie Coats and husband Todd of Ponca City, Aaron Thiele and partner Jessica Derossett of Tulsa, Kayla Thiele and partner Joe O’Connor of Arkansas City, Robert Swinford and wife Stephanie of Ponca City, Zack Swinford and wife Jessica of Winfield, Tiffany Maskey of Colorado, Misty White and husband Kevin of Colorado, Bonnie Russell and partner Michael of OKC, Dewayne Givens and wife Tiffany of Ponca City, Rhonda Bruce of OKC, over 30 great-grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home