Eva Mae Dunning Swopes, 83, El Dorado Springs, was born Sept. 4, 1927, to Herbert and Leona (Boots) Dunning on the family farm in St. Clair County west of Lowry City. She passed away Oct. 6, 2010, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
Eva graduated from Lowry City High School in 1945.
Vernon and Eva met in 1943 while he was on leave. She wrote to Vernon while he was in the service and they were later married.
She was united in marriage on Aug. 6, 1949, to Vernon Swopes. To this union four children were born - Jerry Swopes of Miami, OK, Jim Swopes of El Dorado Springs, Joe Swopes of Belle Vista, AR, and Joyce (Swopes) Smith of Mounds, OK.
Eva was baptized in 1962 as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and attended the El Dorado Springs Congregation. She enjoyed wearing many hats over the years but her greatest joy was being a wife, mother and grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and two sisters, Verda Dunning and Josephine Bellmeyer.
She is survived by her husband, Vernon; four children and their spouses, Jerry and Polly Swopes, Jim and Kandy Swopes, Joe and Janet Swopes and Tim and Joyce Smith; one brother, Herbert Dunning - Independence, three sisters - Margie Moran - Lowry City, Retha Wilson and Audrey Harliman – Independence; her grandchildren - Jason and Rachel Hardee - Miami, OK, Kristal Swopes - Columbus, KS, Jered and Becky Swopes – Miami, OK, Beau and Elisabeth Swopes - El Dorado Springs, Cody and Rachael Swopes - Broken Arrow, OK, Caitlin Swopes - Nevada, Jasmine Quinn and Rachel Smith - Mounds, OK, Drew and Jaima English - Tulsa, OK, and Hannah Swopes - Columbia, her great grandchildren - Madelyn Swopes, Jaden Hardee, Emma Hardee, Willa Swopes, Kyndal Joe Swopes and Finnegan Swopes; and many more nieces and nephews, family and friends.
Services were held Sunday, Oct. 10, at Sheldon Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs, with Brother George Brown officiating. Final disposition, cremation.
Arrangements by Sheldon Funeral home in El Dorado Springs.
