Charlene Marie Swope, age 75, Joplin, passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2019 in Ellsworth, Maine after a sudden illness.
Char was born December 14, 1943 in Plattsburg, Missouri, daughter of the late B. T. O'Connor and Agnes Hales O'Connor.
After high school, she lived and worked in Kansas City, Missouri, for five years before marrying her high school sweetheart, Emerson Swope, in 1967. They lived in St. Joseph, Missouri for two years prior to Emerson serving in the United States Air Force, during which time they lived in Glendale, Arizona for three years before returning to St. Joseph for six more years. From 1979 to 1981 they lived in Marshall, Missouri, and then moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where they lived for eight years. While in St. Louis, Char worked as a high school secretary for six years at Tower Grove Christian School.
In 1989 she moved to Joplin, Missouri where she held several jobs including owning and operating a Merry Maids franchise for 11 years. She later worked for Parker Mortuary and then Missouri Southern State University in the registrar’s office and human resource department. After retirement, she worked part time at Meat and More in Joplin. She spent the last two summer/fall seasons working for Oli’s Trolley in Bar Harbor, Maine.
In 1989 she moved to Joplin, Missouri where she held several jobs including owning and operating a Merry Maids franchise for 11 years. She later worked for Parker Mortuary and then Missouri Southern State University in the registrar’s office and human resource department. After retirement, she worked part time at Meat and More in Joplin. She spent the last two summer/fall seasons working for Oli’s Trolley in Bar Harbor, Maine.
Char accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in 1972 at age 28. She was an active member of Forest Park Baptist Church where she volunteered in the preschool ministry for many years as a teacher, team leader and most recently greeting and checking in the families at Kid’s City. She loved the children and their families. She volunteered in the Celebrate Recovery ministry, served on five mission trips to Brazil, once in Haiti and once to Kenya. Char also volunteered with Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief.
Char was a loving mother and wife. She loved spending time with her family. She and Emerson enjoyed camping and traveling through all 50 states (most of them more than once), through Canada, including the Maritime Provinces and even a trip to China.
In addition to her parents, Char was preceded in death by one brother, Tom O’Connor; one brother-in-law, Tom Broderick; one sister-in-law, Helen O’Connor.
Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Emerson Swope; daughter Samara Hoofnagle and husband Chad Hoofnagle of Pineville, MO; daughter Julie Swope and husband Trieu Nguyen of Longwood, FL; son Matthew Swope and wife Arefeh Swope of Winter Park, FL; granddaughter Shayla Swope; step-granddaughter Shelby Masonhall; step-grandson Nick Nguyen; and step-great granddaughter Ellyson Masonhall. Siblings include Donald O’Connor, Plattsburg, MO; Loretta Broderick, Plattsburg, MO; Juanita Thornton and husband Jim, Liberty, MO; Margaret Lynn Evans and husband John, Smithville, MO; sister-in-law Beverly O’Connor, Cedar Park, TX.
Funeral service will be Friday, October 18, 2019, 12:00pm at Forest Park Baptist Church Worship Center with Dr. John Swadley officiating.
Private graveside services will be held at a later date in Lebanon Church Cemetery, Clinton County, Missouri.
The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 11:00am to 12:00pm.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Forest Park Baptist Church Children's Ministry.
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