Ruth Swisher

Ruth Hazel Swisher, 92, of Marquette, died Friday, January 30, 2009, at Riverview Estates in Marquette.

She was born January 30, 1916, in McPherson County, the daughter of Mc W. and Lelia Reta (Bradbury) Jarvis.

Ruth graduated from McPherson High School. While in high school, she was an office assistant at the McPherson Hospital. After high school, she worked in Salina at Barnard's shoe department to save up money to attend Omaha Capital Beauty School in Omaha, Nebraska. After graduating from beauty school, she worked in beauty shops in McPherson until she and John were married. While married, she worked a period of time at the Lindsborg Community Hospital as a nurse's aide and at Groom's Beauty Shop in Marquette.

She married John Jacob Swisher in Salina, Kansas on January 30, 1946, after his return from World War II. The couple raised cattle and grain northwest of Marquette for over 30 years, before moving to Marquette in 1979. John passed away on August 4, 1994.

As a youngster, she was a member of the Baptist Church in McPherson, but later she joined the Marquette United Methodist Church and was an officer in the United Methodist Women and the church's Dorcas Circle. She held offices and was a member throughout the years of the American Legion Auxiliary, McPherson County Food Bank Board, Smoky Valley Saddle Club, and the Marquette Senior Center, where she was a faithful quilter for many years.

Survivors include: a son, Galen Swisher & wife, Cheryl, of McPherson; two daughters, Sherry Sneath & husband, Eddie, of Augusta, KS and Barbara Rose & husband, Jim, of Houston, TX; three sisters, Virginia Rush of McPherson, Oletha Williamson of Rogers, AR, and Alberta Bass of Alton, IL; six grandchildren and spouses, Brent and Roxie Sneath of Windom, KS, Brendon Sneath of Kearney, MO, Jason and Kate Rose of Denton, TS, Cameron and Barbara Rose of Owasso, OK, and Laura and Morgan Swisher of McPherson, KS; six great-grandchildren, Flint, Chase, and Kassie Sneath of Windom, KS, Ethan and Parker Jonathan Rose of Denton, TX, and Landon Rose of Owasso, OK.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, three sisters, Julia Mowbray, Mildred Thurstin, and Winifred Hanson, and two brothers, Warren and Claude Jarvis. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ruth Swisher please visit our Sympathy Store.