Elizabeth Swisher

Elizabeth Joy Swisher (nee McGee) died Saturday morning, January 16, 2010, at her home in Baytown Township. She was 90 years old.

She was born in Sibley, Iowa on June 14, 1919, the daughter of Richard Allen McGee, Sr., and Myrtle Leola McGee (nee Ellis). She grew up in Minneapolis, Forest Lake and New York City.





She started her university education at Hunter College, New York, but interrupted it to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II as an aviation instructor. She completed a B.A. (1947) in anthropology at the University of Minnesota. During this time she participated in an archeological dig at Chaco Canyon, which led to a lifelong interest in the Native American art of the southwest.





Her interest in all the arts led to postgraduate work toward a M.F.A. degree at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where she married Donald Everett Swisher on September 23, 1948. They shared more than 50 years together, and had two children, Michael Scott Swisher and Molly Beth Swisher.





Mrs. Swisher was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Alice Jean McGee Jordan; her husband; brother-in-law Dr. Scott N. Swisher II and sister-in-law Edna B. Swisher.





She is survived by her children; her brother Richard A. McGee II and sister-in-law Velma McGee, and their children, her nephews Gary and Rich, nieces Jane and Aileen; her sister's children, Jeff and Tim Jordan; nephews Scott N. Swisher III and Dr. Edward Swisher; grand-nephews and nieces; and sister-in-law, Doris Swisher.





A memorial service will be held Friday, January 22, 2010, with reception of friends at 11 a.m., and commemoration at noon at Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center, 2800 Curve Crest Blvd. (northwest corner of Highway 36 and County Road 5), in Stillwater.





Bradshaw Funeral and Cremation Services, 651-439-5511, is handling the arrangements.