Mary Alice Swinger

Mary Alice Swinger, daughter of the late James Reaves and Laura Alberson Reaves, was born on December 11, 1932 in New Madrid County, Missouri, and departed this life on Nov. 20, 2020 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, at the age of 87 years.

Mrs. Swinger was a former nurse’s aide and a homemaker. She was a member of the Essex Church of Christ and a resident of Dexter.

In 1955, she was first united in marriage to Elvis Leon Johnson. They were married for sixteen years and to this union eight children were born. She was then united in marriage to Otis Swinger on Dec. 1, 1979, in Marble Hill, Missouri. Mr. Swinger preceded her in death on Feb. 13, 2013.

She is survived by two sons, David Johnson of Bloomfield and Ron Johnson of Poplar Bluff; step-son, Jack (Helen) Johnson of Byron, Illinois; four daughters, Betty (Johnny) Black of Bloomfield, Debra (Richard) Ward of Dexter, Dana (James) Kneiss of Poplar Bluff, and Melissa (Tom) Moore of Holcomb, step-daughter, Mary Ellen Williams of Kennett; sister, Bernice Reaves-Goss of Belleville, Illinois; 18 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

Other than by her husbands and parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Danny Johnson and Darwin Johnson; two step-sons, Darrell Swinger and Paul Swinger; step-daughter, Phyllis Ward; two brothers, James Albert Reaves and James Gilbert Reaves; and two sisters, Freda Reaves-Floyd and Amanda Faye Reaves-Dempsey.

Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 from 1-2 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 at 2 p.m. with Herman Morse officiating. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Memorials may be made to the Paragould Children’s Home Inc., 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, Arkansas 72450-3319 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38101.

Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.