Jack Fredrick Swopes

Jack Fredrick Swopes of Falcon, Mo., passed away Sept. 4, 2013, at the Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo.

He was born July 26, 1937, in Weaubleau, Mo., one of eight children to Melvin and Goldie Norris Swopes.

Jack always had a love for animals and the outdoors. He was a cowboy known for his ability to handle animals and to train horses and dogs. Many will remember his well-trained horse, Hank, who was sold to be used as an award-winning roping horse on the rodeo circuit. Hank, when retired, was returned to Jack and only recently had to be put down. He had two excellently trained horses at the time of his death, which he used most days, starting at daylight, to check on three herds of cattle.

He worked on the Sheeks Ranch near Cabool, Mo., for many years. The last years were spent on Lonnie's Ranch near Falcon. Jack worked with cattle, ranchers and many sale barns near Cabool, Lebanon, Osceola, Appleton City, and many other towns in south central Missouri.

Jack had a dry sense of humor and many stories. He was rough on the outside, but had a heart of gold. When he had a job to do, he did it well. You always knew how he felt and where he stood, as he was a plain-spoken man.

Jack and Shirley Geisken were married Mach 13, 1957. They had three children: Kathy Moore, Clint and Brent. All of his children and most of his grandchildren love and are talented with horses. Jack and Shirley were divorced. He was later married to Debbie Powell.

Preceding Jack in death were his parents, his sister Columbine Allen, brothers Thomas William and Edgar Leon and granddaughter Nannette Swopes.

Survivors include his children, Kathy Moore of Grove Springs, Clint Swopes and Raye of Walker, Brent and wife Janet of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sisters, June Coleman of El Dorado Springs, Grace Harold and husband Tom of Nevada; two brothers, Melvin (Vess) Swopes of El Dorado Springs, Leroy Swopes and wife Dorotha of Appleton City; grandchildren, Lindsey Moore and Austin Ward of Grove Springs, Jessi Swopes of Ozark, Jerri Raymond and husband Turi of Hobbs, N.M., Peggy Swopes of Nevada, Elizabeth Seran and husband Arman of Independence; great-grandson Clinton Bradley Seran of Independence; and stepdaughter Dawna Skaggs and her children, Ty and Justin Skaggs of Verona.

Services were at the Lynchburg Baptist Church Saturday, Sept. 7, with pastor Terry Martin officiating. The ladies of the church prepared a delicious lunch for those attending. Jack was cremated and his ashes spread over his favorite spot on a high hill overlooking a beautiful valley on the Gasconade River as he had requested.