Irma A. Swope

Irma A. Swope age 88 passed away at Pleasant Meadows Christian Village in Chrisman, IL on the 10th of August, 2011. She was born January 7, 1923 in Bellair, IL, the daughter of Ethel (Freeland) Cramer and James Cramer. She was united in marriage to Rev. Lee Swope May 31, 1942. They were married for over 60 years. Irma was a minister€™s wife, mother of two children, grandmother and great grandmother. Irma grew up near Oblong, IL, and graduated from Oblong high school in 1941. She attended S.I.U. for 2 years and took classes at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky. She was associational W.M.U. president for the 9 mile association in Southern Illinois. She spoke to clubs, schools, and churches on a variety of subjects over the years. Irma was active in Civic organizations: Business and Professional Women, Women€™s Club, and Christian women€™s club. Her hobbies included oil painting, sewing, creative writing, and public speaking. She held several different jobs: Clerk typist for Corning Glass Works in Harrodsburg, KY, Bookkeeper at Brunner Office Supply in Carbondale, IL, Intermediate Clerk Accounts Payable dept. for Bechtel Corp., and accountant for Hoagland Accounting in Robinson, IL from which she retired in 1985. In her retirement she led senior adult conferences all over the state of Illinois for the Illinois Baptist State Association. She spent 20 years at West Union, Illinois and moved to Marion, Illinois in 1988. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Marion, IL. Irma moved to Paris, Illinois in 2004 to live near her daughter and attended First Christian Church with her daughter and son in law. She was preceded in death by her husband Lee in 2002, her son Richard in 2007. Her brothers Roy, Edwin, and Harold Cramer; her sister Mildred Barrett, and nephews Mark Cramer, Allen Cramer. She is survived by daughter Diana (Roy) Rogers of Paris, Illinois, 5 grandchildren: Cory Rogers (formerly of Paris) of Boston, Ma., Holly (Alex) Lawson of Chrisman, IL, Angela Downs of Paris, IL, Kristina (Josh) Payne of Adell, Wisconsin and Lisa (Miguel) Lopez of West Allis, Wisconsin, 14 great grandchildren McKenzie, Mikayla and Mason Downs of Paris, IL, Justin, Dillon, Nathan, Kathryn, Livia, and Josiah Lawson of Chrisman, IL, Joshua and Gwenevere Payne of Adell, Wisconsin, Jordan, Elijah, and Adalee Lopez of West Allis, Wisconsin. Funeral Services for Irma will be at Prust-Hosch Funeral Home in West Union at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 15th. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday preceding the funeral services at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Annapolis at Olive Branch Cemetery. Pallbearers are Alex Lawson, Justin Lawson, Dillon Lawson, Roy Rogers, Larry Cramer, and Larry Swope.