I have so many great memories with you Grandma! I loved spending time with you at the farm and in Dothan! I miss you so much and I love you!!❤

XOXO
Debbie Doo 

There are several memories that make me smile when I think of Grandma! Grandma always showed her love for her family through food. 
One visit to Alabama had us arriving a few hours before dinner. It was perfect timing for me because I spent those hours with her talking about how she made her food, even the simplest things like green beans. 
It wasn’t until I was much older that I appreciated the fact that I was named after her and my mom, but now I wouldn’t change it for the world! 
Miss you and love you, Grandma!!

Martha's LOVE for her family is the best memory! There was never a doubt about her love and dedication. We can all learn from that.

I remember when Ladine & her family would come to our Grandmother (Martha Morris’s) house in a motor home years ago & how impressed this little country girl was. 
I always loved her. She was always cheerful & loved all of us. 
I truly miss her. 
By the way, I have part of her name as well. My name is Martha Faye.

We never got to spend much time with Martha but it was always fun when we did.
One memory I have is when Kirk was a baby and I was feeding him with an infant feeder she wanted to help. She wanted to to push the plunger instead of letting him suck it down on his own. Another time she told how her bra had slipped and she looked down and she had 4 boobs. 
She was such a fun loving woman and missed every day.
Floyd remembers the first time she visited his folks and had to pee after dark. They told her to just go out and do it in the yard and she squatted on top of a cold bucket and came running back in yelling that something had gotten her. He also laughs about the time he was staying with them and working and she woke him and ask if he wanted a tater sandwich. 
Good memories.

Mrs. Swarts was a beautiful lady inside and out .   She always made you feel welcome in her home and glad to see you .     She liked  
playing cards Donna and I would go to the farm and play cards  with her  and Carol .    She’ll be greatly missed . 

Thank you for being the best Great Grandma. 
We loved spending time with you and Great Grandpa at the farm and in Alabama...

I have so many memories that I could share. But the one that keeps coming to mind is that every day she  would get up, put on her make-up, fix her hair and get dressed like she was going to go to town.  Then, head out to the kitchen and start cooking and cleaning. Most of the time she had a cloth thrown over her shoulder so she could dust as she was going through the house. (That was something that stuck with me and I find myself doing that sometime). I sit back now and wonder how in the world she did it all.  She loved what she did and loved doing it for us. I love and miss you Mom.   

Aunt Martha was one of most wonderful Aunts i got to know. When they lived on the farm. I would get to see her an play dice and just see everyone. She had a heart of gold and was one of a kind.. she surely will be missed by many. I will miss those hugs and her amazing ice tea.. love always ur niece Amber 

I have so many wonderful memory's of Mom, she loved us all. 
Mom was a great cook on everything she made. 
Mom always dressed up with her ruffle blouse on when she was gardening, always looked nice. 
She took care of all of us real well (great)  I remember when I got bucked off a horse,  Mom came running outside swinging a broom and hit Bonnie. 😊  Love ya Mom 💕

Martha, you are so beautiful. 
Your heart was so full of love it filled the sky's and flowed to every one that knew you.  
Sis you are one of the best.  
God Bless you. 
Janice

The farm was like a camp for us kids, I liked staying to enjoy your pizza and spaghetti. 
I remember you telling me about my mom Debbie, how you put her on the pot "toilet" when her water broke, and Mom thought she wet her pants.. 
We used to watch Love Connection and stay up late with you to wake up grandpa for work and wave goodbye and him honk at us. 
I love you and will always miss you.. 

Greenfield

[Sitting on the porch at Boyd and Martha's house in Long Grove.
Looking down across the road at the green field. Trying to spot deer or pheasants. Inspired the name of our band Greenfield]

Greenfield, stretching out below
Greenfield, country that I know 
Greenfield, windmill, Greenfield

Blue sky, sparkling above
Blue sky, country that I love
Blue sky, birds fly, blue sky

Old truck, down the gravel road
Old truck, pulls a heavy load
Old truck,  big buck, old truck

Think I'll walk a mile
And watch the good Lord smile
Look at what He's done in Iowa

Mud Creek, winding through the trees
Mud Creek, rippling in the breeze
Mud Creek, hide seek, Mud Creek

Deer run, faster than the wind
There's one, with her next of kin
Deer run, have fun, deer run

Think I'll walk a mile
And watch the good Lord smile
Look at what He's done in Iowa

Greenfield, stretching out below
Greenfield, country that I know 
Greenfield, windmill, Greenfield

(J. R  E)

I've learned so much and I'll pass on everything I learned from her, to everyone that crosses my path. 
Rest easy in gods arms, love you forever" - aka Nessa or Vmelinssa 💕

I love the talks Ladine and I had about our Mothers and our family connections. 
I miss our time we spent together, 

I always loved to see Ladine. 
 She was always so pretty.  She took so much pride in her appearance.
I loved the times that she and I just had one-on-one times of talking.  
She was so loving and loveable.  .
Eddie remembers that when he was young that Ladine and her sister, Janice would come to their house to visit.   She was the age of Eddie's older sisters,  but he remembers their visits.
Eddie and I miss her tremendously.

The thing that stays with me is Mom was always there. No matter what. That is why she is beside me every day.    💕

🌹🌹🌹If Roses Grow in Heaven...🌹🌹🌹

If roses grow in heaven,
Lord please pick a bunch for me,
Place them in my Mother’s arms
and tell her they’re from me.
Tell her I love her and miss her,
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek
and hold her for awhile.
Because remembering her is easy,
I do it every day,
but there’s an ache within my heart
that will never go away.  
(DMG)🌹🌹🌹🌹

I Love you Mom~Bonnie💋


Golden Family Tree

Planted in May Nineteen Fifty-two
A family tree blessed of God to be true
Boyd Freeman was joined with sweet Martha Ladine 
Lancaster Missouri played host to the scene

Nineteen Fifty-two, how far can that be
Takes us nearback to the birth of TV
That's prob'ly too far for most to remember 
But they'll say that the nights were more warm and tender
Sweet Home Alabama kept them both for a while
There were three when they left the next year with a child
Scott County Iowa became home for keeps
The family kept growing in bounds and in leap

Long days at Alcoa and spare time in the garden
Kept eight kids well fed, in good clothes, and not wantin
This family tree stood the true test of time
Hard bent, but not broken, with grace that's Divine

Now down in the valley the Wapsi flows through
Farmland and timber, some folks live there too
This couple laid claim sort of midway in life
Bord Swarts and Martha his Southern Belle wife

Lotta water flowed by feeding crops every year 
The children moved out but keep coming back here
Where grandkids would feast on grandma's great meals
And grandpa'd give rides on the big things with big wheels 

Two thousand and two makes this family tree golden
With many strong branches of loved ones behold'n
The fruit of true love, hard labor, and laughter
May Gid bless them this day and for many thereafter
(J.R.E)


Aunt Martha was the very best in aunts!
  She always had fresh food ready to be heated up, always had a smile for us. Loved to laugh, i remember one time she called a cupid stand a stupid stand, i thought she didnt like it, but then somebody corrected her and said no mom its a cupid stand. We all laughed and laughed.
 I sure miss her.

Martha was A unique lady. 
Her family was her main priority and did her best to take care of everyone. 
We have many precious memories of her.
Dee n Pat

She was the best mom I could ask for and was always there when I needed her. She would help anyone out when they needed it and was the best person. It was great sharing birthdays with Mom and Carol, we'll loved spending our day together.  I love my Mom and miss her dearly. 

She made me love "Greens", "Grits" & Sweet Ice Tea! & She taught her children how to cook like she did...I think of her with every bite of Darrel's cooking & I know he feels her presence whenever he's in the kitchen. I also loved the way she talked; her deep southern accent & her unique way of saying things was precious. I loved the story of how she wanted all her kids names to rhyme because Boyd's mom did that! And because of her sweet Alabama drawl, they did! I loved how she said Derl instead of Darrel, cellafone for cell phone and shannylea for chandelier. Martha will be held in our hearts forever and we will miss her so much until we see her again! 

She was the nicest, kindest lady I ever met! 
And she was there  for me when I needed  her the most! 
I will never forget her or her kindness! 
She was my heaven sent, when I didn't know there was a heaven!!! 💕💕

I will never forget all the time we spent on the farm growing up. 
The amazing food you made to our sweet tea. 
All the sleepovers we had, from campouts in your bedroom closet to the basement. 
All the games of Yahtzee! with your cup of coffee always by your side.
Oh, I can't forget those mornings waking up and having to go out and sit on the porch with our bucket to snap all the beans before we can play for the day. LOL
I'll never forget your smile, when walking in the door whenever we would come over. I'm glad I have all those memories to stick with me forever and I'm glad I got to spend 41 years with you!  We will always love and miss you Grandma, until we meet again!
Pam, Chad, Des and Dom 


I have so many great memories of Grandma, some of my favorites being watching wheel of fortune, playing Yahtzee and her sneaking me some Coffee from her clear coffee mug when my mom wasn’t looking. I’ll never forget her annual Easter bunny cakes, her world famous pizza, and her red lipstick. But what I’ll miss the most are her  hugs, kisses all over your face, and her “you look so pretty” whenever she saw you. We miss you and we love you so much Grandma

Having sleepovers on the feather mattress in Grandma's closet.
Eating watermelon outside at the farm and then getting washed off in the milk house.
Playing Yahtzee at the dining room table at the farm. 
Grandma's hugs and kisses, her advice on boys and her making coffee.
When Grandma would run out of storage space, she would put pots and pans underneath the couches in the alligator pit.
Grandma was the person everyone wanted to have their friends and extended family meet.
She was the most unique, beautiful and strongest woman you'd meet.
Grandma would give us 5 gallon buckets to pick green beans with her. Then  take the 5 gallon buckets, which at time probably weighed as much as kid me! inside to snap while watching Wheel of Fortune, so Grandma could make them or can them  ❤ 
I also would swim in her old washtub outside with my swimsuit and goggles.  ❤


Grandma would stand on the front porch and smack the baseballs over the road, snapping green beans, making noodles and learning the secret to good sweet tea. 


I loved stopping out at the farm after work for homemade pizza and Wheel of Fortune.  Love that Grandma taught me how to cook, so now every time I cook I can think of her and have a part of her with me.

I have so many funny & great memories.  From playing the card game spades and Yahtzee with you and our friends to watching  our soaps, Another World & Days of Our Lives. 
Writing you letters and mailing them when I was at school because I knew how much you liked getting letters in the mail. 
You trying to teach me how to cook and make homemade egg noodles, mine will never be as good as yours; gardening, snapping beans and canning.  
I often want to call you to ask you a question or tell you something funny. Or tell you I've decided it's time for me to take a road trip. Sharing Dec 22 with Mom and Donna made my birthday even more special. 
I sure miss you everyday, Mom.  I often speak your name and think of you with love.  You will always be in my heart. ❤
I have all my memories and our pictures as keepsakes, with which I'll never part. 
Love you Mom!
xoxoxoxo

Aunt Martha (MOM) never in 40 years I have seen her with a sad face. Except in that moment when she said I wish I have known you longer. 
You could never go visit in Long Grove or Dothan without knowing she was going to have company because she would tell me her nose started itching the day before. 
At the Long Grove home we would pull in by the kitchen on the west side of the house. If it was summer and the windows were open you could hear her holler,  Dad someone's here! 
She would be outside with open arms and giant smile before we opened a door. She hated to wait for the hug and kiss.
I loved my Mom (Aunt Martha) and I know she loved me. 

I have so many great memories I really don't know where to start. My parents trying to pick me up and they would make it to the stop sign an have to turn around to take me back to stay with Grandma.
During the days helping Grandma around the house, waiting soaps and gardening.
Doing cartwheels  through the living room until my legs got to long and started hitting the fan.
Waiting up to make Grandpa his chocolate  Malt-o-Meal and packing his lunch box before  he went to work.
Then staying up to watch Love Connection and Arsenal Hall.
Playing Yahtzee and drinking coffee and dipping tea cookies.
These are a few memories of my childhood. Have many more as an adult with Grandma and my boys.  Some pretty funny one that I'll remember and enjoy.  Love ya Grandma.

Her laugh and the way she giggled. 
My introduction to Days of Our Lives and Bo and Hope.
She was always dressed nice and well put together.
Her Sweet tea and homemade noodles.
Patting the sides of her legs to keep them slim.

I miss you every day Grandma. I hope to be as great of a mother, wife, gardener and all around woman that you were.  I will forever remember your hugs, and your laugh. I am so glad you got to give some lovin' to Jolene while we had the time. Jolene loved you so much. Love, Christine and Jolene

I am a dear friend of Bonnies, we met in the 6th. grade.  I loved going to the Swarts’! It was an instant love for me, Martha always made me feel so welcome and loved, I was an instant part of the family, and we always had so much fun.! Just as everyone has mentioned, Martha was such a great cook, I first had bread and gravy there, they were amazed, and I was in love! We sometimes laughed until we cried around the kitchen table!  To me Martha was so beautiful, and sweet, and of course I adored her southern accent!! I could go on, but I’ll end with this, she left such an ideal for me of  what home life should be, it was a love that I admired, very plain to see what she and Boyd shared! I’ll never forget her, what a lovely soul, a gift to all who knew her.  Until we meet again, love, Kathy, 💜🙏🏻✝️

Aunt Martha was a wonderful, beautiful and loving woman. I always looked forward to reunions with the Swarts’ because we knew we would be at Boyd and Martha’s where there was always fun, love and good ol’ cooking. 

She will be deeply missed by all of those who loved her. 

I love you Grandma you were an amazing woman and the best cook. I will miss you dearly and I'll never forget all the time I spent with you growing up. Helping in the garden and snapping beans by the bucket full on the front porch, the taste of your delicious Sweet tea you always had made and how you had such a beautiful smile. I can see it now. How you always had a glass of coffee and when you would answer the phone and say "Hello this the Swarts's" all the little things about you will stick with me forever..
 You were the only grandma i ever had and Jesus made sure I had the best. Rest in peace. until we meet again. Love you -Ashley

The Family

 Visitation

Funeral Service

Alonzo Morris

Lillie (Davis) Morris

Boyd F. Swarts

Connie (Tim) Vogel

Earl (Kathy) Swarts

Bonnie (Jim) Ehlert

Carl (Rhonda) Swarts

Donna Real

Michael Real

Carol (Robert) Hultquist

Darrel Swarts (Peggy)

Dale Swarts (Teresa)

Janice Moran

Also left to cherish her memory are 23 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren; along with many extended family members.

OBITUARY

Martha Ladine Swarts

December 22, 1931 – October 23, 2019

The Runge Mortuary & Crematory

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