Mildred Swoffer

Mildred Lorene Small Ledsworth Swoffer, 94, left this earth on July 29, 2014, at her home. She was born on March 12, 1920, in Forrester, Michigan, to Margaret and David Small, the youngest of five sisters, and was adopted at age 10 by Charles Ledsworth after his marriage to her mother. She grew up on the shores of Lake Huron and graduated from 8th grade in Lexington, Michigan. During World War II, she worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” in an aircraft factory in Detroit, where she was especially good at de-burring rivet holes in the wings of fighter planes. On July 4th, 1943, she married Bruce Swoffer at the YWCA Camp Cavell where her stepfather worked as a caretaker and where she and her family did many jobs such as cleaning cabins and washing campers’ clothes. They had two children, Merlene Gay and Robert Charles. Bruce, Mildred, and family lived in Michigan until 1958 when they moved to Lamoni, Iowa for Bruce to teach at Graceland College. In 1968, they moved to Independence, Missouri, but returned to Michigan in 1972, after which Mildred completed her GED. The couple returned to Missouri in 1979. Their son, Bob, passed away in 1986. They moved to Raytown in 1996 to be close to family, and lived happily together until Bruce passed in 2010. Since that time, Mildred has lived with her daughter, Merlene, in Raytown. She has been a life-long member of the Community of Christ church, formerly RLDS. She was active in women’s work, girl’s work, crafting, and crocheting, as well as volunteer activities as a Jackson County Election Judge and Community of Christ Museum volunteer. She is survived by her daughter, Merlene Brush, Raytown, two grandsons, Michael and Dan Brush, Raytown, two granddaughters, Lorin Worth, Seattle, and Molly Schlenker (Jason), Portland, Oregon, as well as three great-grandchildren, Korinne Ainsworth, Seattle, and Rohnen and Ryder Schlenker, Portland, Oregon. Mildred was affectionately known as Nana by her family and friends. Her sweet, quiet spirit will be greatly missed. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at the Raytown Community of Christ church, 6231 Manning, Raytown, Missouri. If desired, contributions may be sent to: Gentiva Hospice, 4911 S. Arrowhead Drive, Suite 310, Independence, Missouri 64055.