Ora Ellen Swallow, 98, was born September 3, 1894 in Duncan, Wright County, Missouri to John B. and Lillie Gentry Spore and departed this life Friday, April 2, 1993 in the Colonial Manor, Woodward OK.

In 1898 the Spore family came to Oklahoma and lived near Claremore. Ora's first school was an Indian Mission near Jones. In 1905 Ora and her family came by covered wagon to Western Oklahoma and her father filed on a government claim in Beaver County. Ora, along with her parents, two sisters and one brother, lived in a dugout. They were members of the Church of God and endured the hardships of early days with thanksgiving and faith for better times.

On October 6, 1911 at Beaver City, Ora and Clinton Jasper Swallow were married and to this union five children were born. In 1901, Clinton had filed on a Beaver County government claim and this is where they established their home and raised their children and grandchildren.

Mrs. Swallow was a happy, industrious pioneer lady with a ready smile and a helping hand wherever needed. She was always busy and loved all children, especially babies. She delighted in raising her own family and had the privilege of raising four of her grandchildren. She was more than a mother and a grandmother, she was a best friend and an encouragement to those she loved so dearly. The family devotion has remained through the years.

Her family and many of her friends cherish special crocheted items she has made especially for them.She continued her crocheting until December of 1992. She operated the Madison Telephone Exchange from her home more than 48 years until the office was installed. Her friends missed hearing her sweet voice say "Hello, this is Madison." She was always helpful in locating her customers on the exchange.

She attended the Highland Chapel Church near her home until it closed. She loved to go fishing and one of the highlights of her life was going to her granddaughter Carolyn's to fish! Dogs were her favorite pets.

With the help of her children and grandchildren, Mrs. Swallow was able to maintain her farm home until December 6, 1988 when it became necessary for her to have nursing care and she moved to the Colonial Manor in Woodward, where she enjoyed the friendships and appreciated the loving care of the nursing staff. Members of her family and friends visited her often and she was thankful for their love and attention.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Clinton, on June 17, 1964, one daughter, Elnora Martin, her brother, Jimmy Spore, her two sisters, Mandy Bozarth and Belle Diamond, and two grandsons, Ted Black on May 25, 1979 and Jimmy Haack on July 30, 1984.

Mrs. Swallow leaves as her survivors four children and their spouses: Esther and Arthur Moore, Dodge City, KS, Elsie Armstrong, Coppell, TX, Leonard and Dorothy Swallow, Laverne, Ethel and Fred Black, Logan; 15 grandchildren, including Raydean, Donald, Terry Swallow, and Barbara Swallow Anderson, the children she raised; 23 great grandchildren; 12 great great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were Monday, April 5, 1993 at 11:00 a.m. in the Seeger Funeral Chapel, Laverne, with the Rev. Neil Ragan officiating.

Mrs. Jack Cornell was organist and accompanied Neil and Billie Ragan, Jack and Kathryn Cornell as they sang Mansion Over The Hilltop and Until Then and Bobby Taylor as he sang One Day At A Time.

Pallbearers were grandsons, Vernon Moore, Verl Moore, Melvin Moore, Raydean Swallow, Donald Swallow and Terry Swallow.

Interment was in the Laverne Cemetery.