Helen Kathryn Swanson

Helen Kathryn (Smith) Swanson, 91, of Centennial, Colorado, and longtime Houston resident, was called by God on Tuesday May 30, 2017 --- 67 days following the death of her husband of 67 years, Donald Charles Swanson. Helen was born in Fort Collins, Colorado to Charles Harry Smith and Lydia Mae (Stewart) Smith on May 10, 1926. She graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1944 and continued her education with a BS degree in English and Music from Colorado State University. Helen married the love of her life, Donald Charles Swanson of Canon City, Colorado, on June 10, 1950 in Tulsa, Oklahoma; they were married 67 years. Helen’s early life revolved around her love of music and dancing. As a young child, she was an accomplished vocalist, and performed in many venues throughout Colorado. Her interest in music continued into her college years, as she played piano for dance bands that performed throughout Colorado. In the first week of her freshman year at Colorado A&M, while her band was playing at a dance, she met her future husband, Don. Together, they led a dance band thereafter. Following her graduation from college, she taught piano in Fort Collins and Liberal, Kansas. Following her marriage to Don, she focused her energies on raising their sons, Charles Richard Swanson and Jeffrey Stuart Swanson. Helen was the anchor of the Swanson home—a challenge given they lived in 16 different homes in seven different towns and cities in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas —all in connection with Don’s career at Exxon. She brought softness, sweetness and care to her family, and served as an effective counterbalance to her rather vocal husband and sons. Helen often gifted loved ones and friends with custom needlepoints and special notes and cards of love. She had a life-long love of cats, and a soft heart for all animals. A vivacious conversationalist, with a sharp sense of humor, Helen could often be found at the center of any gathering or party. As a direct descendant of the Mayflower, she ensured that all her children and grandchildren were enrolled in the Mayflower Society. Helen is survived by a son Charles Richard Swanson, and his wife Karen; a son Jeffrey Stuart Swanson, and his wife Lisa; and eight grandchildren, Kimberly Marcelle Swanson Myrick, Laura Kathryn Swanson, Jill Kramer Swanson Witt, Philip Charles Swanson, Julia King Swanson Schmidt, Jane Kathryn Swanson, Jennifer Ann Swanson and Jaclyn Elizabeth Swanson. She is also survived by five great grandchildren, Jackson Christopher Myrick, Gracyn Marcelle Myrick, Kramer James Witt, Townes Michael Myrick, and Mason Stuart Witt. She is also survived by three nieces and one nephew. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Don; and a daughter Elizabeth Ann Swanson, and a son Philip Christian Swanson, both who died at birth. She was also preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Anna Mae (Smith) Heiny, and Margaret (Smith) Tinder; a three year old brother Robert S. Smith; two nieces and one nephew. Funeral services will be at 1:00pm on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at the Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins, Colorado, with burial following at Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Colorado Alzheimer’s Association, the SPCA or Citizens For Animal Protection (“CAPS”) of Houston, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524.

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Helen Kathryn Swanson

May 10, 1926 - May 30, 2017