May Swanson

July 22, 1924 - June 8, 2008

May C. Swanson, 83, of the Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center and 4031 N. Clifford Ave., Bemus Point, died at 11:52 P.M. Wednesday (June 4, 2008) in WCA Hospital. She was born July 22, 1924 in Jamestown, the daughter of Axel and Lillian Carlson Lawson. A graduate of Falconer High School, she had been employed in earlier years at the Fenton Historical Society and Marlin-Rockwell Corp., and had worked at Bell Aircraft in Niagara Falls during World War II. Mrs. Swanson was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church for over forty years. She was also a member of the Mozart Club, the Bemus Point Study Club, and had been a member of the former Music Study Club. An enthusiastic people person, she was always interested in others. She had a great thirst for knowledge, and had conducted her own independent studies of history, religion, art, classical music, and politics. She experienced much personal growth in her later years, while always maintaining her great sense of humor and remaining outspoken yet sensitive. Surviving are four sons: Keith E. (Peg) Swanson of Bemus Point, Leighton I. (Debbie) and Lowell R. (Brenda) Swanson, both of Jamestown, and Nathan C. (Rachelle) Swanson of Bare, Del.; four daughters: Dale C. (Mark) Desmond of Jamestown, Lydia A. (Tom) Angle of Savannah, Ga., Melody L. (Dennis) Peterson of Steamburg, and Adelle D. (Bill) McCarthy of Angola, N.Y.; eighteen grandchildren: Kristine N. Weiss, Matthew K., Megan L., Mallory L., Michael L., MacKenzie L., Benjamin L., Nicholas N., Caleigh G., Narra E., and Emery C. Swanson, Jeremy J. Desmond, Kristin D., Dennis E. Jr., and David J. Peterson, William R. and Michelle M. McCarthy, and Shannon Owens; three great grandchildren; two brothers: Clifton and Bruce Lawson; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Irving O. Swanson, whom she married June 24, 1948 in East Randolph, and who died March 22, 2003; two sisters: her twin, Margery P. Smith and Dorothy R. Welcome; and by a brother, Richard Lawson. The memorial service will be at 2:00 P.M. Monday in Powers, Present & Sixbey Funeral Home. Burial will be in Bemus Point Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 ? 7:00 P.M. Sunday in the funeral home. Email condolences may be sent by visiting the website www.presentsixbeyfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials may be made to the Mozart Club, or to the Bemus Point Volunteer Fire Dept.