Shirley Mae Swinford of Lafayette went into the loving arms of Jesus June 9, 2023, after a seven-year battle with cancer. She was born September 30, 1937, to Robert and Lou Vicie Ford in Hoopeston, IL. On July 2, 1955, she married Robert Swinford and together they had five wonderful children whom she loved very much. She was a wonderful loving wife and mother.  James E. Faust said, “The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation” and her children were greatly influenced by their mother. She was a devout Christian and attended Brady Lane Church. She loved her Brady Lane Church family and taught her children scriptures, reading bible stories to them when they were younger. Shirley always wanted better for her children than she had growing up and devoted her days chasing that pursuit for her kids and grandkids.

Shirley was a very creative spirit; she loved art and drawing, painting, crafting, sewing, quilting and baking. She extended that creative spirit into making cakes, which she did for many years. Lots of wedding, birthday and graduation cakes were made and delivered by her and the children. She loved to be around her family, second only to the love she had for Jesus. “Is it time to play cards?” Canook Rummy was her favorite card game! Turning to Dad she would say, “I still only have 11 cards!!!” “Who’s turn is it?” She loved it when the family played cards and she always won! She made food whenever the family was around and taught her children how to cook. Dad would always say, “there’s enough food here to feed an army!” She enjoyed spending time with her grandkids and great grandkids. Her loving kindness was an example of Jesus’ teachings shown by always welcoming them into her arms with hugs, kisses, and ice cream.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Robert, her five children Larry Swinford, Steven Swinford, Teresa Skipper, Carol Fairbanks and Sharon McGuire, her 16 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. She was preceeded in death by her mother and father, brothers Dale, Stanley and Howard Ford, and sister-in-law Shirley Ford.

Visitation will be from 12:00 pm until the time of the service at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Brady Lane Church, 2701 Brady Lane, Lafayette, IN. Interment will be at Greenlawn Cemetery, Frankfort, IN.