Fredna Mae (McKinniss) Swaney

By | December 24, 2017

The Lord brought Fredna Mae (McKinniss) Swaney into the world on Oct. 29, 1919 and took her home on Dec. 22, 2017, at the age of 98, to be with Him eternally. She was born in Coal Township, Jackson County, Ohio to the late Harry C. McKinniss and Lizzie Childers McKinniss.

Fredna graduated with the Class of 1937 from Coalton High School. She was a loving homemaker, wife and mother, who over the years was also employed as a seamstress at Hercules Trouser Co. in Wellston, a clerk at Stiffler’s Department Store in Wellston and Elberfeld’s and G.C. Murphy’s, both in Jackson. Fredna loved sewing, working outside in her flower and vegetable gardens and reading. She also enjoyed watching the birds and singing, but most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. Fredna was a member of the Evergreen Baptist Church and attended both, the Coalton Baptist Church and the Crossroads Baptist Church in Robin, North Carolina.

She is survived by her daughters, Sherry Brown (Tracy) of Carthage, North Carolina, Janet Creamer (Donn) of Ray and Patty Stevens (Tom) of Wellston; grandchildren, Tim Brown (Chris), Shawn Brown, Brandon Brown, Aaron Brown (Ashley), Derek Creamer (Anna), Lacy Pittenger (Scott) and Andrea Hill (Tim); sister, Berta McKinniss of Tucson, Arizona, as well as 10 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Fredna was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Wayne Swaney in 1999; her son, Larry Dean Swaney, a casualty of the Vietnam War in 1968; brothers, Paul, Charles, Wayne, Oakley and Robert McKinniss; and her sister, Martha Maerker.

Calling hours will be Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home in Wellston. Funeral service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Holyfield and Pastor Andy Rawlins officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.mcwilliams-funeralhome.com