Obituary of Mary C. Swanson

Mary Elizabeth "Betz" Carothers Swanson, 98, formerly of Emeritus of Lakewood and 2 Prospect Street, Chautauqua, died Sunday November 15, 2015, in Heritage Green Rehab and Skilled Nursing. "Betz" was born July 11, 1917, in West Newton, PA, the eldest daughter of the late William and Mary Van Dyke Carothers of Chautauqua, NY. She was the widow of Arthur Andre Swanson, Jr., to whom she was married for over 58 years and who died January 9, 1998. Mr. Swanson was the owner of Swanson Chemical Laboratories of Lakewood, NY. Mrs. Swanson went to school K through 12 in the West Newton School District and then went on to Allegheny College, Meadville, PA. She attended Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated in 1939 from Case Western Reserve, Flora Stone Mather in Cleveland, OH with a B.S. degree. Later, she earned a Master's Degree at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. Like many young families after WWII, the Swansons relocated quite often. They started their marriage in Jamestown in 1939, then lived in Parlin, NJ, Blacksburg, VA, Radford, VA, Bonner Springs, KS, Sunflower KS, Somersville, NJ, Janesburg, NJ, Westchester, PA, South River, NJ, Chautauqua , NY Badger, WI, Baraboo, WI, Carterville, IL, Carbondale, IL, returning to Jamestown in 1963. They moved to Sugar Grove, PA in 1968 and in 2002 Mrs. Swanson moved to Chautauqua. She was the Home Economics teacher in the Rehabilitation Department of Anna State Hospital, Anna, Illinois. While living in the Jamestown area, she taught Home Economics at Southwestern High School, retiring in 1983. Over the years she loved running into her former students and hearing their stories. She was a life member of American Association of University Women and enjoyed her experiences with the AAUW International Group. She was an active member in churches in each community in which they lived. Locally she was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown. She was a volunteer at the Sugar Grove Library and a member of their book club. Mrs. Swanson's family was her life and her love was immeasurable. She was deeply involved in her children's lives with Scouting, Children's Choir, PTA, sports, plays and dance recitals. As a wife, mother, "Gram", aunt sister, cousin and friend she sustained us with her humor, wisdom and support. Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Andy Swanson III and wife Karla Meyer Swanson of Salisbury, NC, Suzanne Swanson Hillkirk and husband Keith of Reading, PA, Jon Swanson and wife Cathy Beagle Swanson of Boulder, CO and Jim Swanson and wife Judi Present Swanson of Jamestown; grandchildren Sonja Swanson Holbrook and husband Joe of Palm City, FL, Scott Hillkirk and wife Viktoria Ribakova Hillkirk of Alexandria, VA, Andy Swanson IV of Stevenson, WA, Debra Swanson O'Connor and husband Leigh of Port Haddlock, WA, Cara Swanson Barfield and husband Andy of Atlanta, GA, Monica Swanson Gerda and husband Joe of Kennesaw, GA, Molly Swanson Duplichian and husband Josh of Wheat Ridge, CO, Kiersten Hillkirk of Playa del Rey, CA and Philip Swanson and wife Joye Server Swanson of Atlanta, GA and nine great grandchildren Elle and Anderson Barfield, Jensen and Keaton Gerda, Clara and Grayson Duplichian, Hannah Holbrook and Morgan and Brynn O'Connor. Besides her parents and her husband she was preceded in death by a brother William Dick Carothers and a sister Jane Anne Carothers Fehlen. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Lind Funeral Home. Rev. Samuel Shreffler will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 4-6 p.m. Friday and for one hour prior to the service Saturday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to AAUW Jamestown Branch, c/o Shirley SanFilippo, 11 Chapel Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 or First Presbyterian Church, 509 Prendergast Avenue, Jamestown, NY 14701. You may leave words of condolence for the family at www.lindfuneralhome.com.