1923
Bette
2007
Bette Swinney
July 4, 1923 — September 12, 2007
C. Bette (Johnson) Swinney, South Kansas City, departed this life at her home on Wednesday, September 12th, after a year of declining health.
Bette was born in 1923 to Ralph and Judith Bierwirth in Sioux City, Iowa. Her family moved to Kansas City in her teen-age years and she graduated from Westport High School in 1942. She was the school artist and afterward, received a degree from the Kansas City Art Insitiute. This prepared her for her career as a designer for Hallmark Cards. She designed cards for ten years, then was director of styling for another five years. At Mr. J.C. Hall?s behest, she designed a leather protfolio for Mr. Winston Churchill.
Bette met and married Melvin Johnson. They enjoyed forty-seven years of happiness? and the birth of their son Christopher at their home in Leawood. Prompted by Chris?s developmental disability, Bette became a co-founder of a remarkable organization; Community Living Opportunities. That was thirty years ago and she was still a member of the Board of Directors.
Bette has enjoyed a host of friends throughout her life while she savored her hobbies of dancing, bridge, crafts, literature, and raising Chris to be a fine young man. Bette was the caregiver to her husband Mel during his bout with cancer before his death in 1993.
Chance allowed her to meet a high school classmate, Bob Swinney after he lost his wife. They were married in 1998 and have been holding hands ever since.
Bette was predeceased by her husband, Melvin Johnson, her son, Christopher Johnson, her brother, Ralph Bierwirth, and her sister Phyllis Reeves. She is survived by her husband Bob and his children, who fell in love with her the moment that they met her.
A private interment is planned at Johnson County Memorial Gardens. A memorial service commemorating the lives of both Bette and Chris is scheduled for Saturday, September 22nd, 11:00 A.M., at the Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that memorial contributions might be extended to CLO, P.O. Box 14395, Lenexa, Kansas 66285, or to a charity of your choice.
Bette was born in 1923 to Ralph and Judith Bierwirth in Sioux City, Iowa. Her family moved to Kansas City in her teen-age years and she graduated from Westport High School in 1942. She was the school artist and afterward, received a degree from the Kansas City Art Insitiute. This prepared her for her career as a designer for Hallmark Cards. She designed cards for ten years, then was director of styling for another five years. At Mr. J.C. Hall?s behest, she designed a leather protfolio for Mr. Winston Churchill.
Bette met and married Melvin Johnson. They enjoyed forty-seven years of happiness? and the birth of their son Christopher at their home in Leawood. Prompted by Chris?s developmental disability, Bette became a co-founder of a remarkable organization; Community Living Opportunities. That was thirty years ago and she was still a member of the Board of Directors.
Bette has enjoyed a host of friends throughout her life while she savored her hobbies of dancing, bridge, crafts, literature, and raising Chris to be a fine young man. Bette was the caregiver to her husband Mel during his bout with cancer before his death in 1993.
Chance allowed her to meet a high school classmate, Bob Swinney after he lost his wife. They were married in 1998 and have been holding hands ever since.
Bette was predeceased by her husband, Melvin Johnson, her son, Christopher Johnson, her brother, Ralph Bierwirth, and her sister Phyllis Reeves. She is survived by her husband Bob and his children, who fell in love with her the moment that they met her.
A private interment is planned at Johnson County Memorial Gardens. A memorial service commemorating the lives of both Bette and Chris is scheduled for Saturday, September 22nd, 11:00 A.M., at the Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that memorial contributions might be extended to CLO, P.O. Box 14395, Lenexa, Kansas 66285, or to a charity of your choice.
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