Dena Swanson

One time after marrying Norm Swanson, the men went out to Ione to hunt pheasant, when they returned home, they set their bounty down to clean up after the hunt. When they returned Dena had cleaned all the birds! At that very moment they realized she wasn’t just a pretty face. She then became known as a “Cow-milkin, chicken-pluckin ’, hog-sloppin, Mississippi mud-flatter!

Dena Swanson, age 97, passed on August 28, 2026. She was a fiercely independent woman who forged her own unique path in the world and stood up for what she believed was right. She was a Mississippi mud-flatter, an enthusiastic cook, hostess, gardener, entrepreneur, wife, mother, and grandmother. She is even related to Jimmy Carter by way of his mother, Ms Lillian, who was a Gordy.

Born on July 6, 1929, in Louin, Mississippi to S.A. Gordy and Lotchie Jane Hutto Gordy, Dena was the second of three children, Willie Latrael Gordy being her older brother and Faye Kirkes her younger sister, Dena spent her early years at a homestead in Prineville, Mississippi which was built from a portion of the old plantation house on the property. She learned her cooking and cleaning skills from her Grandma Hutto, who, having been half Cherokee had been sold into bondage and bought by the man who would later become Grandpa Hutto. Dena’s mother, felt too isolated in the country, so they moved into town, Canton, where they owned a gas station/grocery store. Dena remembered clearly helping her dad carry and deliver 25lb. blocks of ice as a little girl. Her father, S.A. Gordy, became a master mechanic for Harold Chevrolet and worked as their service manager. Dena learned a lot about cars under her father’s tutelage, handing him this tool or that.

Dena did not allow the prejudices of her time to influence how she treated those around her and instead chose to treat those around her with dignity and warmth. Her childhood home in Canton, Mississippi would someday even be along the path of the historic civil rights walk, The March Against Fear. Growing up she had a black maid, Mandie who would bring peaches – Dena’s favorite fruit – to her and would hold her during her fits of asthma when she could hardly breathe. Despite her mother’s objections Dena would invite Mandie in for coffee. Pauline, who picked okra for the family until her hands were bleeding, would also be invited in for lunch by Dena, also in spite of her mother’s objections. Dena fought to treat others with love and respect and refused to fall into the ugliness of Southern bigotry. During her childhood she had few toys but plenty of childhood frolics; swimming alongside water moccasins in a pond, playing with Junnie Bugs and frogs. She even had a pig named Spot and a goat named Billie, who would both eventually become dinner.

In 1948, after marrying Jo and Sandra’s father, the family relocated to Seneca, Oregon when the Heinz lumber company that her husband worked for relocated them there. The family would then move to Burns, Oregon where Dena worked for the highway department. They would later move to Portland, Oregon where Dena worked as a hostess at Dupay’s Restaurant in Milwaukie, Oregon and then went on to become a new accounts officer at US Bank for 20 years. After retiring she became an entrepreneur and opened her own hair Salon, Columbia Square Hair Design, in NW Portland close to the waterfront.

Through a series of life’s unfortunate / fortunate events, Dena was married 4 times. Second and most profound was Debra’s father, Everett Clare Jones, followed by Robert A. Kronberg and lastly, as referred to at the beginning of her story here, Norman E. Swanson. To bring levity to these chapters, a friend once gifted her with an urn that was inscribed “ Ashes of Dead husbands” !

During her retirement years Dena served in many philanthropic organizations; Broadmoor Women, Oregon Symphony, and Sisters of Sapporo.

Dena was predeceased by her brother and sister, Willie Latrael Gordy and Faye Kirkes; her son, William (Bill) Swanson and eldest daughter, Sandra Faye Brock. She is survived by her daughters Debra Stout, Jo Woodward, Marie Goins, Linda DeClerk, and sons Norman C. Swanson and Gerald Swanson. Survivors also include eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Dena was warm and welcoming to family and friends, cooking and hosting get togethers, she was a beacon of light to gather around. She tended to her relationships like she tended to her garden with care and persistence. Though flawed, as we all are, Dena will be greatly missed by those fortunate enough to have known her in life.

Services for Dena Swanson will be held at Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home; 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR 97229 on September 28th, 2026 beginning at 12:00pm.