Nell Swan

JIMMIE “NELL” (JOHNSON) SWAN was born in Handley, Texas on November 6, 1930, to parents Bennie Nelson Johnson and Theresa Elizabeth (Kunze) Johnson. She grew up in the Handley area of Fort Worth and graduated from Polytechnic High School in 1948. She was an independent woman with a strong faith who lived life on her own terms and could be single-minded in pursuit of a goal. At Polytechnic, she wanted a letter jacket, so she pursued archery, and, by her senior year, was president of the archery team. According to her eldest son, Michael, she never lost her competitive spirit (or her “bullseye” skills) as he discovered when he was young and foolish enough to challenge her to an archery match!

Her independent spirit led her to attend secretarial school after which she worked for the United States Corps of Engineers for several years and bought her own car in 1949. She loved traveling, dancing, books, movies, socializing with friends and bowling, participating on more than one team and going to the Texas state championship. In 1952 she met the love of her life, Charles Allan Swan, when they were both attendants in a wedding. On September 25, 1953, they married in Fort Worth, Texas. They lived in different locations in Texas including Snyder, Colorado City, Kilgore, Premont and, finally, Plano in 1969 when “Charlie” began working in the Richardson Sun Oil Company Lab.

Together, they shared over 61 wonderful years of marriage, building a home filled with warmth, laughter, faith and love. In January 1956 they were blessed with the arrival of their first child, Michael, followed by David in 1960, Amy in 1965 and Lori in 1968. They bought their first l6 foot travel trailer in l965 and enjoyed travelling to State parks, the southern states and seeing the country. Many family vacations were spent in the trailer, so the children grew up to share her love for nature and travel. She also enjoyed sewing and crafts, including ceramics, stained glass, knitting and embroidery.

In 1976, she went back to work at Christie Elementary School in Plano’s ISD where she worked as a secretary for 10 years. In 1986, she and Charlie both retired, upgraded to a 26-foot travel trailer, and hit the road, seeing many national parks and other sites all around the country. They would leave for months at a time, leaving their grown children to frequently ask “Have you heard from Mom and Dad lately?” (That was before cell phones!) They also took to the seas on many cruises where they saw Alaska, Hawaii, and much of the Caribbean. Many enjoyable years were spent traveling and visiting family across the country. When Charlie could no longer drive, she was not deterred. She took to the wheel in her 80s, and they continued cross-country trips to visit family.

Nell was preceded in death by two infant children Cary and Marlin; her mother, Theresa Turner; and her beloved husband of 61 years, Charlie Swan (d. 2014). She is survived by her loving children: son Michael and wife Rene Swan, son David and wife Gay Lynn Swan, daughter Amy and husband Shonnie Lyon, and daughter Lori and husband Danny Hoff as well as nine cherished grandchildren: Jessica and husband A. J. Mejorado; Laura and husband Justin Archer; Justin and wife Emily Swan; Kayley and husband “Nav” Gill; Braden Swan; Ethan and Emily Lyon; and Mallory and Macy Hoff and four beloved great-grandchildren: Eva, Mila, Luca, and Rowan.