Mary Masten (Huffman) Swan

Mary Masten (Huffman) Swan, 92, of Baldwin City, KS, passed away Jan. 14, 2014. She was born in Falls City on Oct. 17, 1921, to Carl and Adele (Masten) Huffman.

The oldest of three children (Sally and Bill), Mary often revisited her hometown and her childhood friends. The banks of the Missouri River were her childhood playground and she loved returning for the anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

After graduating from high school she attended Rockford College in Rockford, IL, subsequently transferring to the University of Nebraska to earn her Teaching Certificate.

Mary met her future husband, Arthur “Tom” Swan, who could hear the baseball game she was listening to on her front porch from his boarding house across the street. Thus began a lifetime love they shared of baseball.

After moves to Walton, N.Y., and Hobbs, N.M., in 1960 the family settled in Baldwin City, where Tom owned and operated the Baldwin City Lumberyard. They raised their children: Susan, Tom, Michael, William, John and later additions of Robert Barnett and Lee Swan. Mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, raising and enjoying children were her life’s work.

She was a strong supporter of her community and belonged to the United Methodist Church, Tuesday Reading Club, Hestia Study Club, Bridge Club, and the “official” Baldwin news-spreaders, the Biddies. She could often be found sitting at her front window sipping tea with seven sugars, watching birds and reading. She was an avid fan of theatre, the Baldwin Bullodogs, K-State Wildcats, KU basketball, Baker Baseball, Kansas City Chiefs and a Royals season ticket holder for more than 40 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband and grandchild, Christopher Swan.

She is survived by: daughter, Susan Swan Butell (Carl), Baldwin City; sons, Arthur Thomas Swan III (Belinda), Wichita, Michael Huffman Swan (Donna), Lawrence, William Richard Swan (Germania), Silver Spring, MD; John Rathbun Swan (Carol), Atlanta, Lee Swan, La Mesa, TX, and Robert Barnett (RuDee), Colorado Springs; grandchildren, Katy, Bryan, Bonnie, Brad, Jeff, Sara, Sarah, Fernanda, Stephanie, Emily, Sally and MaKayla; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Visitation was Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014 from 4-6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Baldwin City. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at First United Methodist Church, Baldwin City. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Baldwin City, following the funeral.

Family suggests memorials be made to Baldwin City First United Methodist Church or Lumberyard Arts Center in care of Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, PO Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006.

Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com