Ruby "Jane" Swadley

Ruby "Jane" Palmer Swadley died peacefully in her home on August 10, 2015. She was born on October 23, 1919 in Eufaula, Oklahoma to Thomas Henry Palmer and Myrtle Collins Palmer. She graduated from Eufaula High School on May 20, 1938. She married Guy Swadley, Jr. on January 18, 1939 in Okemah, Oklahoma Okfuskee County, Oklahoma by P. Boyd Smith of First Baptist Church Okemah, Oklahoma. She had a deep love and loyalty to her family and was known as the matriarch of the Palmer family. In her early years of marriage, she worked at the ammunition plant in McAlester, Oklahoma and made enough money to purchase a car. Later she worked as an assistant to Dr. Wendel assisting house calls which included many baby deliveries. For a short time she worked as a sales person at Palmer Swadley Wholesale Grocery, which her father began and was later owned and operated by her husband, Guy Swadley. She worked for the Department of Human Services from 1961-1981, helping everyone she met. She served as the Ward 2 City Council Representative from 1983-2003. The mayor always called on her to open council meetings with prayer. She loved the City of Eufaula and the people. Her father and husband were both successful merchants in the City of Eufaula, so she wanted to dedicate city projects in memory of her family. Her first project was to have a mural painted of her father"s first store on one of the buildings downtown. She also encouraged the naming of Palmer and Swadley Drive in Eufaula Heights, and provided Palmer Park located at Locust and High Streets, in memory of her family. She furnished the city judge"s room at the police station and provided funds for a pavilion in Eufaula Cove. Her pride and joy was gathering names and photos of Eufaula mayors from 1900-2000. She was also instrumental in several projects at Greenwood Cemetery and supported other numerous city activities. She was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church, where she served as a teacher in the children"s department, chairperson of the funeral dinners, provided flowers for the sanctuary for twenty years, along with numerous gifts to her church, including the foyer chandelier, chair lift and encouraged the building of the existing steeple. She loved the Lord and His church and was always faithful to teach her children to attend in honor of our Lord and Savior. She enjoyed driving her Lincoln Towncar, cooking banana nut cakes and spaghetti and meatballs for any occasion or anyone in need. Ruby helped many people in the community of Eufaula and did so with a zest for life. Guy preceded her in death on October 18, 1980 at 9:30a.m. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her father in 1964 and her mother in 1973; five brothers including Arthur Palmer in 1967, Allen Palmer in 1994, Willie Palmer in 2003, T.H. Palmer Jr. in 2007, Jim Palmer in 2009, and sister, Pauline Palmer in 2011. Survivors include: one sister, Marguerite Palmer Schmitt, of Eufaula, OK; daughter, Julianna "Judy" Swadley Davis and husband, Larry, of Miami, OK; son, Guy Steven Swadley and wife, Beverly, of Eufaula, OK; three grandchildren: Juli Diana Davis, Joseph Alan Davis and wife, Casey, and Guy Andrew Swadley and wife, Keana; two great grandchildren: Sarah Jo and Guy Alan Davis; many nieces and nephews; and she leaves behind three special loving and caring helpers: Susie Long, Donna Bumgarner, and Brenda Bumgarner.