Jadean Swenson

Jadean “Deanie” Moon Swenson, age 90, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2017 after a long struggle with dementia. Graveside service will be 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, March 10, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Deanie was a loving wife, daughter, mother, grandmother and trusted friend. She was born in Hill County, Texas, graduated from Hillsboro High School and attended Baylor University. She married Bill C. Swenson on April 17, 1959 and lived in Waco until she moved to Lakeway, Texas in 2013 after Bill’s death. She was a devoted mother to her daughter Lori and her son Scott, being there for them on every occasion, teaching them the meaning of love and encouraging them to achieve their highest potential. She and Bill were devoted, third-generation members of Trinity United Methodist Church, and later Central United Methodist Church where they dedicated their time and talents. After over 30 years of service, she retired from the Waco Tribune Herald in 1987 as supervisor of the classified department. When friends are asked to offer three words to describe Deanie, “Elegant”, “Kind-Hearted” and “Fun” are used the most. Always the consummate hostess, Deanie loved to fill her home with family and friends. She and Bill were always known for entertaining. In her younger years, she enjoyed dabbling in various art mediums, which lead to her donating her works to charities. Unknown to many, Deanie struggled with poor vision all of her life. Unable to read books to her grandsons, she delighted them with stories of her childhood, which led to writing her book “Deanie’s Story”, published in 2002 and distributed by Barnes & Noble. Deanie is preceded in death by her husband, Bill C. Swenson; her parents, Maedell and George Moon; and sister, Ima Lee Kennemer. She is survived by a family that loved her, her daughter, Lori Leal Wedemeyer and husband H. Barkley Wedemeyer of Houston; her son, W. Scott Swenson & wife Carla, grandsons William Hampel Swenson and Zachary Scott Swenson, all of Lakeway; her nephew, H.H. “Ken” Kennemer of Dallas; and cousin, Dana Lou Thompson of Ft. Worth. Pallbearers will be William Hampel Swenson, Zachary Scott Swenson, H. Barkley Wedemeyer, Michael Kennemer, Allen R. Miller III and Sherman L. Steig. The family extends special thanks to her caregivers at Clare Bridge Memory Care, Brookdale Lakeway, where she improved her quality of life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, www.dementiasociety.org. or Central United Methodist Church, 5740 Bagby Ave., Waco, TX 76712. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com