Alice Swindall

1917 - 2016

Alice Rhay Swindall

1917 - 2016

Alice Elaine Rhay Swindall passed peacefully on November 12, 2016 in Springfield with family at her side. She was born July 1, 1917 in Wichita, KS, the third child of Daniel & Edith (McEldowney) Brown.

During her youth, Alice lived in several states, including Kansas, Montana and Missouri. Her father was a minister, and at the age of nine she accepted Christ and began a lifelong love of studying the Bible and attending church. In 1935 she graduated from Buffalo High School in Buffalo, MO, and then attended Southwest Missouri State Teachers' College in Springfield, MO. On May 21, 1937, she married Alan Rhay in California, and they later moved to Oregon, eventually settling in Coquille. He passed on January 18, 1968.

She was a church secretary and also worked for the Sentinel newspaper and the Coos County Extension Office in Coquille. Following the death of her first husband, she moved to Eugene and worked in the library at Northwest Christian University. She met Wilfred Swindall at Westside Christian Church, and they married on August 4, 1972. During retirement, they enjoyed traveling to Germany and also throughout the United States. She especially loved the Oregon coast. Wilfred passed on February 15, 2001 in Eugene.

Alice enjoyed a variety of arts and crafts, also reading and gardening. She was a talented seamstress and made many of her clothes, including suits and dresses. She also made beautiful quilts, wall hangings and baby blankets. Family was very important to her, and she hosted many gatherings at her home. When Alice and Wilfred moved to Sunriver, family gatherings continued to be popular, along with bike riding, feeding the chipmunks and finding golf balls at the local course. They were gracious and fun hosts.

Survivors include her sons: Phil, Tim (Lin), Gary (Patti) and step-daughter Judy (Rich). 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands and brothers, Darrel and Richard.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, December 4, 2016 at Norkenzie Christian Church in Eugene at 2:30 pm, with reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Norkenzie Christian Church, 2530 Crescent Avenue, Eugene, OR 97408 or Northwest Christian University, 828 East 11th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401.

The family would like to thank the staff at Spring Valley Assisted Living and Signature Hospice for their loving care.