Aurelia May Tanner Swafford

Aurelia May Tanner Swafford, died May 29, 2016 at the age of 104 years and 10 months at Valley Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility, Excelsior Springs, MO.  She was a Ray County resident nearly all of her life.

Aurelia T Swafford was born in rural Ray County, Missouri, on Aug 4, 1911, the daughter of Viola M Rowland and George W Tanner. She attended elementary school in Orrick, MO, then graduated from Richmond High School in 1929. After completing two years of study at William Jewell College, and receiving a lifetime teaching certificate, she accepted her first teaching position in the fall of 1931 in "Lower Town", Camden, MO. This began a teaching career that spanned 43 years, including the White and Elliot in rural Ray County, and schools in Kings City, Polo, Excelsior Springs, and Richmond, MO. She was graduated from William Jewell College in 1936 and over the years did graduate studies at Warrensburg and Maryville, MO.  This spring marked the 80 ^th anniversary of her graduation from William Jewell College.

She was married to Virgil F Swafford of Rayville on October 11, 1941. He preceded her in death in August 1985. They spent their married life and raised their family on a farm near Rayville.

She was active in the founding of the Ray County unit of Missouri Retired Teachers Association in 1977 and was the last charter member of that group. She was honored in 2008 as the Distinguished Retiree from Region 2, Ray County Unit.

On her retirement from teaching she began her second life work – genealogy. She was a member and served in numerous offices in the Allen Morton Watkins Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Missouri River Trails Chapter, Colonial Dames XVII Century. She was also a member of United Daughters of Confederacy, Daughters of the Union, Daughters of the American Colonists, and National Society Magna Charta Dames and Barons.

She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Rayville, MO, and over the years was active as clerk, treasurer, teacher, pianist, and whatever else she was called on to do until her health forced her to move off the farm and into a residence facility.

She is survived by a son, Forrest T Swafford (Gloria), of Liberty, a daughter, Bonnie S Knauss (David) of Kearney, a grandson, Jonathan R Knauss (Karen) of Chicago, a granddaughter, Mary K Gallimore (Erik) of Kansas City, and four great-grandchildren, Bailey Gallimore, Landon Gallimore, Austin Knauss, and Katherine Knauss. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews that have been an important part of her life, and former students all over the state who have counted her as friend.

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The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Allen-Morton Watkins D.A.R. Chapter Student Award Fund; attention, Mary Martens, Treasurer at 11930 Hwy 13, Richmond, MO 64085

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 3, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond. Visitation will be Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond. Burial will be in the Richmond Memory Gardens Cemetery. Online condolences maybe left on our website at www.thurmanfuneralhome.com Thurman Funeral Home, Richmond, MO, in charge of services.