Harriett Pearson Swager

This amazing woman left a legacy of love. She was called Happy by all in her family,

Harriett was a leader in her community, an enormous proponent of giving back, a talented

musician, a total force of nature and a woman of deep faith. She taught us all how to live and

love and persevere. She will be missed terribly but we will celebrate her extraordinary,

beautiful life and the fact that the world is a far better place because she was in it.

She was born August 24, 1921, to George and Elma Pearson in Burlington, IA. She was one of five children. Survived by her brother Warren (Mrs. Margie) Pearson, Chicago, IL, and daughters Joanne (Mrs. Lloyd) Bowles Jr., Dallas, TX, Linda (Mrs. Jim) Tullis, North Palm Beach, FL, Carol (Mrs. Hobey) Vance, Grapevine, TX along with two stepdaughters, Janice (Mrs. Greg) Cheney, and Judy (Mrs. Joe) Carpenter, Westport, CT. She had 13 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

She was married to John Altorfer (1944-1976) and Eugene Swager from 1981 until his passing on May 9, 2017.

She graduated from Stephens College and Northwestern University.

Harriett was a member of First Federated Church, an elder of First Presbyterian Church, Chapter KX PEO Sisterhood, National Society of Arts and Letters, Junior League of Peoria, Peoria Symphony Guild (played violin), Fine Arts Society and Opera Illinois League, and DAR.

She was a Board member of Pioneer Bank, Peoria Area Community Foundation, Opera Illinois, Opera League, Peoria Symphony, and the Symphony Guild. She served as president of the Symphony Guild, the Women’s Association of First Presbyterian Church, and vice-president of the Junior League. She was actively involved in the Kickapoo Council of Girl Scouts and chairwoman of Camp Tapawingo.

Together with her husband, Eugene Swager, Harriett was active in supporting the visual and

performing arts and established an endowment fund at the Peoria Area Community Foundation

for the encouragement of public art in the community. They gifted sculptures to the Riverfront Museum (“Peoria Portals”), Methodist Hospital (“Passages”), First Federated Church (“Let the children come to me”) and helped fund “Bridges and Reflections” at Illinois Central College.

A memorial service will be held at First Federated Church at 3601 N Sheridan Rd, Peoria, IL, 61604, on April 13, 2024 at 11:00am with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to First Federated Church, the Riverfront Museum or the charity of your choice.

Words of comfort can be shared with the Swager family at www.Davison-Fulton.com