Jean Marie (Schmidt) Swift, 96, of Nixa, Mo. passed away in Springfield, Missouri, on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.

Born in Hastings, Nebraska, on May 29, 1927, to Dorothy Mae (Morin) and Alexander "Saunders" Schmidt, Jean was the oldest of four daughters, and the last of that family to leave this world. The Schmidt's moved to Red Oak, Iowa, when she was a toddler. There she attended school, graduating high school in 1945.

In 1946 Jean went on a blind date with Charles "Chuck" Loren Swift, who was home on leave from the Navy. The date was set up by her friend Norma Henderson, who had married Chuck's twin brother, Lowell. Chuck and Jean fell in love and married on August 22, 1947, in Glenwood, Iowa, with Chuck's sister Ilene and husband, Johnny Resh as witnesses. To this union were born Charles Gary in 1948, Sharan Jean in 1952 and Michael Dean in 1958.

At a very early age Jean's mother depended upon her to help with chores and babysitting her younger sisters. She also enjoyed picking strawberries on her paternal grandparent's acreage. This upbringing taught her the value of hard work. Her adult career included bookkeeping for Houghton State Bank and managing the office for Chuck's autobody repair and salvage business in Red Oak. After moving to Springfield, Missouri, in 1968, Jean managed the book store at Drury College. Later she managed the office for Chuck's, and then her son Mike's, auto damage appraisal service.

Chuck and Jean were both hard-working breadwinners, but it was Jean who knew how to save, which earned them a comfortable life. Chuck always claimed that he owed everything they had accumulated to her partnership and frugality. Following her mother's expertise as a tailor and seamstress, Jean excelled in various crafts and sewing, from clothes to new upholstery for the family boat.

Jean centered her life on family, being a kind loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. While always eager for many camping, boating and water skiing vacations, and other trips especially to visit family, Jean was at heart a home-body. She loved making fancy birthday cakes for her children, and preparing holiday meals and treats for her family. Her love of children was even reflected in her collection of fine dolls.

Chuck and Jean were long-time active members of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Springfield and then St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Ozark, MO.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy Mae and Saunders Schmidt; sisters, Rosemary Wilson, Dorothy Mae Thomas and Mary Lou Lang; husband, Charles Loren Swift.

She is survived by her son, Charles Gary Swift; daughter, Sharan Jean Hankins and husband, Jim; son, Michael Dean Swift and wife, Pam; five grandchildren, Amy Hankins, Jamie Hankins and wife, Rachel, Tom Hankins, Chris Swift and wife, Aimee, and Anna Haddad and husband, Tyler, and five great-grandchildren.

We all feel blessed that we had her in our lives for so long.

Visitation will be at the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at White Chapel at 1 pm, Friday, December 1, 2023, followed by the funeral service at 2 pm, and burial at White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Springfield, Missouri. Online condolences may be made at klingnerfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your charity of choice, and recommends The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at:
13770 Noel Road, Suite 801889  Dallas, TX 75380 For more information and to make donations online see:
https://www.komen.org/