Obituary for
Gwendolyn Grace Swope
Grace Swope, 88, of Portland, OR died peacefully in her home at Raleigh Hills Enhanced Care Unit on January 30, 2017.
Born in Butler, PA on July 1, 1928 she was the daughter of Robert and Catherine Colley. She graduated from Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing in 1951. She married Neil C. Swope in 1952. They celebrated 58 years of marriage prior to his death in May of 2010.
She was an RN working at a time when women didn’t work outside the home. She was a private duty nurse for years and retired as a nurse for the Veteran’s Administration in Little Rock, AR.
Blind from macular degeneration, she was known for her fearlessness and willingness to try anything despite her vision loss. She remained independent until recent months. In her daily life she made it her mission to be positive and help others feel better about their lives and health. She was a gifted pianist who from her teenage years to the present days enjoyed singing in the choir. Grace was active in the Episcopal Church.
Grace is survived by her daughters Karen (Charley) Jay of Round Rock, TX and Cheryl (Jack) Maloney of Hillsboro, OR, sister Helen Colley of West Chester, OH, granddaughter Aly (Balthasar) Indermühle of Sydney, AU, grandsons Marshall (Andrea) Jay and Bryan (Pamela) Jay of Texas and two great-grandchildren, Jordyn and Addison Jay.
