Ruth A. Swalley

Ruth A. Swalley, 81, of Kearney died Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Celebration of Life services will be Saturday, August 20, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Kearney.Rev. Carla Gunn will officiate and burial will be at the Kearney Cemetery.Visitation is planned Friday from 5:00 ? 8:00 p.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney or prior to services Saturday at the church.Memorials are suggested to a Scholarship Fund to be established for Glenwood Elementary School students or the Fort Kearney Shrine Auxiliary. A message of condolence, tribute or memory can be left at www.hlmkfuneral.com.Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney are in charge of arrangements. Ruth was born November 14, 1929 in Lincoln, NE to John and Eva (Huston) Curtiss.She grew up in Lincoln and graduated from Lincoln High School.She then attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and graduated with a degree in education.She taught in Lexington, NE from 1951 1953 then in Bellflower, CA 1953 1954. On July 21, 1954 she married Wayne A. Swalley.They made their home in Tulsa, OK then later moved to St. Louis, MO.She and her husband moved to Kearney in 1959.She took 12 years off from teaching to be the proud mother of Debbie and Jane. In 1968 Ruth started teaching half days at Glenwood Elementary and taught there until May of 1994.She was surprised and honored with a retirement party and humbled by so many friends and former students that attended.She served as President of the Buffalo County Teachers Association. She is a past member of Trinity Methodist Church in Lincoln, a founding member of and past president of P.E.O. Chapter GG of Kearney, member of Eastern Star, Phi Beta Phi and belonged to the St. Louis and Bellflower, California Symphonies.She served as a Bluebird leader and was also a Campfire leader and Vice President of the Campfire board. She is a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Kearney where she has served as Director of Vacation Bible School, was a Sunday School Teacher, Deacon and was the director of the First Presbyterian Church shepherding program. She was a board member of the Interfaith Caregivers at Good Samaritan Hospital, served as corresponding secretary for the Hospital Service League and volunteered in the surgical waiting room and worked in the Sure Cure Gift Shop. Ruth is a past chairman of the Shrine Auxiliary and the Shrine Auxiliary Bridge.She was presented the Women?s Service Award by the Shriner?s Hospital. She is a former director of music at Kinderkirk Preschool and was presented the Freedom Award by the Kearney Hub as Humanitarian. Ruth was honored as Outstanding Educator with Kearney Public Schools and received the Retired Educator Award and received the Favorite Teacher Award presented by the Omaha World Herald. She was a member of the Crisis Team and the Steering committee for the Kearney Public Schools and also did volunteer work at the schools. She was a volunteer at the Children?s Museum and at MONA and was a Friend of the Library. Surviving relatives: Daughters : Debbie Swalley of Loveland, CO Jane Stoppkotte of Kearney, NE Granddaughter Kylee Stoppkotte of Kearney, NE Grandson : Luke Stoppkotte of Kearney, NE Sister in law : Eleanor Watkins of Littleton, CO 2 nieces and 2 nephews She is preceded in death by her husband in 1989 PDF Printable Version

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Ruth A. Swalley

November 14, 1929 - August 17, 2011