SWARTS, Gloria M. (Kelly)

Gloria Mae (Kelly) Swarts, 78, longtime resident of Oklahoma City, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2009 after a valiant struggle with cancer. She was born February 13, 1931, in Eakly, Oklahoma to William Albert Kelly and Rita Odessa (Robbins) Kelly. Raised in nearby Carnegie, Oklahoma, along with her younger brother, Daniel Linwood (Buck) Kelly, her family owned Kelly Grocery during the Depression. They later introduced peanut farming to Southwest Oklahoma. Gloria graduated from Carnegie High School in 1949 where she participated on the girl's basketball team and played snare drum in the high school band. She graduated from Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha with a degree in Business Administration in 1953. Married in 1952 to her high school sweetheart, Russell Edwin Swarts, Jr, the couple moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida for two years while Russell served in the Air Force JAG office during the Korean War. During that time, Gloria worked at Pan American World Airways at the US Missile Test Center. Their first child, Suzanne, was born in 1955. Gloria and Russell returned to Oklahoma City in 1956 and have resided here ever since. Their son, Mark, was born in 1959 and daughter, Libby, was born in 1963. Gloria spent time volunteering at Belle Isle Elementary PTA and served as Cub Scout den mother. Many of her cub scouts will serve as pallbearers at her funeral. She co-chaired Heritage Hall's first annual fundraiser, the ""Country Fair"", along with Karen Johns James. This was the beginning of a business partnership in The Plaza Wickery in Nichols Hills Plaza from 1977 to 1986. She served for many years on the board of the Epilepsy Foundation of Oklahoma and on various committees at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church. She was a realtor with Metro Mark for many years, only retiring this past December. Gloria was a gracious, loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her home was always open to the neighborhood kids and she was fondly known as ""Grandma"" to all her grandchildren's friends. Her passions were hosting friends at home, scouring the world for antiques and traveling with Russell, the love of her life. She is preceded in death by her son, Mark Kelly Swarts her brother, Buck Kelly, her parents, Albert and Odessa Kelly her brother-in-law, Major General Robert Fodge Swarts (Ret) and two nephews, Todd Albert Kelly and Daniel Linwood Kelly. She is survived by her husband, Russell Edwin Swarts, Jr. children, Suzanne Swarts Powell and husband, Dan Kay Lisabeth (Libby) Worley and husband, Brian, grandchildren, Angela Kay Powell Temple and husband, Robbie Kathryn Elizabeth Powell Anderson and husband, Scott Ross Warren Powell, Rebecca Lindsey Powell, Erin Elizabeth Worley, Mitchell Ryan Worley, Madelyn Grace Worley and two great grandchildren, Cole Powell and Abby Temple. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Swarts of Irvington, VA, and a niece Kim Kelly Ross. Services will be held Friday, May 15, at 11:00 AM at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Cancer Research, 825 NE 13 Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.