Marna Louise Swim

Marna Louise Morgan Swim, age 88, took her last breath Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Saginaw, Michigan, her home base, for over three decades. She was born on February 14, 1935, in Bristow, Oklahoma. On that Valentine’s Day, she joined her parents, George and Ruth Morgan, and her big brother Jim with whom she shared a special bond. Later, she became “Sissy” to three younger siblings. They spent their growing-up years among the wheatfields in the Sunflower state and geographic center of the U.S., Hutchinson, Kansas. Her life and values were impacted by life after the Great Depression, a father in the Navy during WWII, and the Nazarene church with its altar calls, bible stories, and hymns. Marna’s ticket to the broader world came through becoming a registered nurse at the Grace Hospital school in 1956 and a 26-year marriage to chemist Leroy Swim. Together they moved to Midland, Michigan, where he worked for Dow Chemical and she for the hospital until their new family called for her homemaking skills. They raised three children from birth through college. She often said that having children was the life accomplishment that she was most proud of. She valued education for them and especially liked to see them gather letters after their names. Later she added more to her own. In the 1980s, she updated her RN credentials with a Bachelor of Nursing degree, followed by a Master's degree and licensure as a psychologist through Saginaw Valley, Wayne State University, and Mercy College of Detroit. Education provided her with the skills and credentials for the career phase of her life, the pinnacle of which was working as an addiction counselor. During this time, she met Darlene Keyes, who became and remained her closest friend and companion for nearly 40 years. Marna was like a second mom for Darlene’s two children who described her as Merciful, Astounding, Respectful, Nurturing and Amazing. Marna was a teacher at heart and always willing to help enrich lives with her peaceful spirit, kind and caring ways, and insightful nuggets of wisdom, often accompanied by graphic illustrations. She had a way of ascertaining and addressing the needs of various organizations she encountered. Then broadening her skills and knowledge, she partnered with others to move into teaching and leadership positions. She was particularly active in religious and scouting circles. In Girl Scouts, she became known for a program for high schoolers called “Springboard to Leadership” and later, in a professional capacity, developed training programs for adults, pioneering in the use of the multi-media platforms available in the 1970s. Marna was deeply religious and ecumenical in her walk through her life. She tempered the religious passion of her youth with the more logical lessons of the Midland Reformed Church. She loved the idea of a church centered on the ideas of the Reformation, which the Holy Spirit continued to reform. In her life. This spirit also led her to actively explore other religious views in her readings and participation in different religious groups. She held positions such as president of the local chapter of Church Women United and a music leader in a charismatic prayer group in Midland, Michigan. She continued her participation with her involvement in bible study groups at South Colony apartments and, even in her last days, Chapel services at Health Source. Marna had a unique combination of loves. She always loved to sing, and it was well known that if you would give her a line, she would break into a song. In church, she developed her own harmonies to classic hymns. She learned folk songs through scouting connections and guitar playing from a friend while they expanded their repertoire to include contemporary Christian music. Marna was eager to embrace products of the post-war and technology booms. She preferred freezing foods over home canning, purchased astronaut inspired Tang and Space food sticks, quickly acquired the earliest home computer models (Commodore 64), and was a favorite grandmotherly figure seeking assistance in the iPhone stores. And then there were the cats! Her first love was big, fluffy, orange Tigger. When having a cat of her own ceased to be possible she collected tiger paraphernalia. She always enjoyed arts and crafts and was especially impressed by VanGogh’s sunflower picture and his style of piling on the paint. Most of all, Marna was a lover of people, and developed deep friendships wherever she was. Marna is survived by her loving friend and longtime companion, Darlene Kay “Dar” Keyes living in Michigan and her adult children Krystal Hembling and Katrina Keyes; her beloved children, Esther Louise Swim-Wright and her wife Nina Swim-Wright living in North Carolina; and Janet Kay Swim and her husband Jeff Davidson living in Pennsylvania; dear grandchildren, Marissa Louise Robie, Emily Ruth Robie, Aiden Alexander SwimRobie, Taylor Patrick Swim, Christopher Swim Davidson, Cassidy Swim Davison; her three siblings, Linda Kay Clark, Rosanne Morgan, and Byron Keith Morgan and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Martin Lee Swim, brother George James Morgan Jr., and parents, George James Sr. and Ruth Mary Chesney Morgan. She's a woman of courage. True and love is she If you need someone If you need a friend She is someone whose advice is very strong. She's a woman of courage Faith and strength has she. If you should meet her be very proud that she is on your side. Yes, we are proud to know you May peace and love be your guide By friends Gail Cebelak, Karen Schreiber & Terri Goyett, 1971 Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 19th at 2pm at 180 S Colony, Saginaw, Michigan 48638. For information, please contact Fischer Family Funeral Services 989-755-8277. For online condolences, please visit www.fischerfuneral.com. For a video review of her life, please go here: https://tinyurl.com/MarnaLSwim

Marna Louise Swim

February 14, 1935 - June 4, 2023