Penny Hilburn

(From Fohn Funeral Home)

Penny Leigh Swearingen’s life began in Monett, Missouri, on August 22, 1958. She was the second born daughter and child to Carl Lee Swearingen and Wilma “Jane” Flora. Penny was welcomed home by her older sister, Carla June. Less than two years after Penny’s arrival, a baby brother, Michael Kent joined the family.

According to her siblings, Penny was a mischievous child while growing up in Wheaton. Penny’s sister Carla was often tasked with watching over her younger siblings. 

Penny was a notoriously picky eater that started in childhood. In fact, Penny despised pork-n-beans and, although required to sit at the kitchen table for hours until the beans were gone, she would secretly deposit them behind the fridge when Carla wasn’t looking. Sometime later when the family moved, a substantial pile of pork-n-beans was found behind the family fridge.

Penny grew up in Wheaton and had an especially close relationship to her maternal grandparents, F.O. and Beatrice Flora, who owned and operated a small store in Wheaton.

Penny attended Wheaton schools her entire life and maintained many of her childhood friendships until the day she left us. Penny graduated from high school in 1976 at the age of 17 and promptly moved to St. Louis to pursue a modeling career. After deciding her stubborn and out-spoken nature wasn’t a good fit for modeling, she eventually became a licensed beautician and barber.

Not long after graduating high school, Penny met Bill Brown, and they wed in Wheaton on April 2, 1978. From that union, Bill and Penny had a daughter in 1981 and named her India Nicole. Although the marriage eventually ended, Bill and Penny always remained friends and shared mutual affection for each other.

Eventually, Penny met Kevin Hilburn and the two married on July 23, 1990. In January of 1991, the family welcomed a baby boy named Kevin Blake. The family eventually relocated to Cassville in the mid 1990’s. Penny and Kevin shared a great love for one another until unexpectedly losing Kevin in 2003. Penny missed Kevin tremendously until her dying day.

Many have described Penny as having a caring and giving heart. Often times, she would cut someone’s hair free of charge if she could see they were struggling. Penny knew how to connect with children when they were anxious about a first haircut. Penny made many friends throughout her life and cherished each and every one of those friendships.

Penny would be considered a “free spirit” and could be found piddling in her flower garden or tinkering with art projects such as copper wire sculptures, mosaic pieces, and hundreds of geodes she collected.

In 2006, Penny became a grandmother for the first time when her daughter welcomed a baby boy named Camren O’Neal Brattin. She eventually earned the name “Nano” by her grandson and that is what she was referred to from that point forward. In 2011, Camren became a big brother to a baby sister named Ada Joleigh Phillips. Penny absolutely adored her grandchildren and she would tell anyone and everyone about her little loves. Three more grandchildren joined the family in 2015 through the marriage of India and Brad Wammack. Penny welcomed Haden, Hallie, and Hoyt Wammack with open arms and loved them just as she did Camren and Ada.

On May 6, 2024, Penny Leigh Hilburn shed her earthly pain and made a graceful exit, surrounded by the love she had nurtured all her life and in the home she and Kevin had built together.

Today and forever, she flies free.

Penny is survived by her daughter, India (Brown) Wammack and husband Brad of Carl Junction; son, Blake Hilburn and wife Olyvia of the home; grandchildren, Camren Brattin, Ada Phillips, Haden Wammack, Hallie Wammack, and Hoyt Wammack; sister, Carla Stockwell and husband Ron of Loma Linda, Missouri; brother, Mike Swearingen and wife Sandy of Wheaton; nieces, Ericka Hamilton and husband Aaron of Loma Linda and Misha Wilson and husband Phillip of Seneca and nephew, Owen Swearingen of Joplin.

Penny was preceded in death by her husband, Kevin Hilburn; grandparents, F.O. and Bea Flora; mother, Jane Higgs and father Carl Lee Swearingen.

Please join the family at a later date in the fall, at Penny’s home, as we celebrate her amazing life with food, drinks, and shared memories.