Harland Howard Swope

Harland Howard Swope, 91, of Rich Hill passed away Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007. Harland was born Aug. 26, 1916, in Rich Hill, to Roy Acy and Ella Pauline Merchant Swope. He attended Rich Hill High School and graduated in 1934. He married Norma Lacy Feb. 1, 1937, in Mound City, Kan.; to this union seven children were born.

Harland ran a dragline for 33 years and dug most of the coal mines south of Rich Hill. During this time he also farmed and supervised his wife and children milking cows.

Harland was baptized at a young age at the Carbon Center Christian Church and lived most of his life in Carbon Center. Later he joined the First Christian Church, in Rich Hill. He enjoyed picking blackberries, playing pitch at the pitch house and hearing his children sing. Harland was so proud of his family and enjoyed when they came to visit him after they grew up and left home.

Harland was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Donna Gail Shoemaker and husband Ronnie; daughter Mary June Williams and husband John; and granddaughter Kelly Dawn Swope. He leaves Norma, his wife of 71 years; sons, Howard Lee Swope and wife Mary Jean, Donald Roy Swope and wife Linda Kay; daughters, Linda Ann Tyrreil and husband Michael, Carol Jean Culver and Nancy Jane Laning; 19 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren.