Tressie Swift

Tressie Swift, 76, of Lafe, passed away early Thursday morning, Sept. 3, 2009, at her home. Born April 12, 1933, near O'Kean, she is the daughter of Charles Moses and Iva Cook Gates. She was a homemaker and member of the Free Will Baptist Church of Paragould. She was united in marriage to Elmer Swift on Feb. 11, 1972.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Dennis and Carl Gates, and two sisters, Levell Swift and Bernice Fortson.

Survivors include her husband, Elmer Swift, of the home; a daughter, Phyllis Hess and husband, Benjamin, of Manila; six step-children, Elbert Swift of Pocahontas, Orvis Swift of Hoxie, Cloyis Daughhetee of Walnut Ridge, Ella Dean Gonzales of Parker, Ariz., Emanuel Swift of Delaplaine, and Amelia Rogers of Paragould; two sisters, Bernel (Babe) Gates of Cedar Lake, Ind., and Nadene Summers Cook of Lafe; two grandchildren, Joyce and Delbert Carter and Charles and Micki Hess, all of Manila; three great-grandchildren, Travis and Brandy Caldwell and Cheyenne Hess, all of Manila; eight step-grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews that love and miss her.

Services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, in the Bryan Funeral Home Chapel. Active pallbearers were Eddie Swift, Kenny Smith, Acea Swift, Charles Hess, Delbert Carter and Jason Summers.

Honorary pallbearers were Charles Ricky, Rick Fortson and John Daughhetee.

Interment was in the Jones Ridge Cemetery near Delaplaine under the direction of Bryan Funeral Home of Hoxie.

Visitation was from 6-8 p.m. Friday.