Era Clyatt Swetnam - Monette

Era Clyatt Swetnam, 90, of Monette died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, at the Lakeside Nursing Center in Lake City. Born at Macey, she lived in the Childress and Monette area all of her life. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the Childress Baptist Church until moving to Monette on Aug. 20, 1975, when she became a member of the First Baptist Church of Monette. She was the valedictorian of the first graduating class of Childress School in 1934. She was active at the Monette Senior Citizen Center and participated in the Senior Olympics for over 12 years. She was a Gold medalist in the 800 meters in the National Olympics in 1999.

Survivors include a son, Tommy Swetnam, of Monette; two daughters, Mary Lou Gower of Timbo and Clyann Ellis Leonard of Jonesboro: a sister, Berniece Swetnam of Ash Flat; seven grandchildren, Melanie Gilbert of Alco, Andy Gower of Mountain View, Chris Ellis of Beebe, Elizabeth Mealer of Timbo, Mollye Bice, Mindy Smith, and Ashley Swetnam, all of Jonesboro; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew Swetnam; her twin sister, Vera Clyatt; her parents, Richard A. and Lucy Clyatt; and a granddaughter, Dava Lou Gower.

Pallbearers will be Joe Gilbert, Andy Gower, Chris Ellis, Ted Mealer, Larry Bice, Chris Smith, and Larry Ladd.

Honorary pallbearers will be her great-grandchildren, Zane Mealer, Cory Gilbert, Drew Gower, Reed Alexander, Zeke Mealer, Clay Gower, Morgan Bice, Cole Gower, Heath Mealer, and Kristen Smith.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. today (Tuesday) at the Gregg Funeral Home Chapel in Monette with Bob Gower and Rev. Captain Lovell officiating. Burial will be in the Macey Cemetery with the Gregg Funeral Home of Monette in charge.

The family requests anyone wishing to leave a lasting memorial consider the Macey Cemetery Fund.