Josephine Earleene "Sug" Swafford

Josephine Earleene "Sug" Swafford, 90, of Richmond, MO, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 22nd, 2025, at Northland Health and Rehab in Kansas City, MO, surrounded by family.

Josephine Earleene "Sug" Swafford was born on June 26th, 1934, to Michael S. and Mary (Denning) Kraft. Sug graduated from Henrietta High School in 1952. She married Lowell Clyde "Banty" Swafford on January 17th, 1954. He preceded her in death on November 24th, 1981.

Sug was extremely hard working, holding two jobs at the same time for many years. She would work during the day, managing all the school cafeterias for the Richmond School District, and then work at Walmart in the evening. She retired from Walmart after 25 years. Sug enjoyed traveling to Pennsylvania often throughout the year and spending time with family and friends. She especially enjoyed her monthly luncheons with Walmart employees. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many. To this day, many people from Richmond still refer to her as "Mom." She had a passion for collecting angels and had a magnificent collection. She was a member of the Richmond Christian Union Church.

Preceding her in death were her parents and husband. She was also preceded in death by all of her siblings, including Helen Louise Summers, Ivan Sylvester Kraft, Bell Kraft, Elwood Levere Kraft, William Arthur Kraft, Marvin Andrew Kraft, Mary Elizabeth Bowman, June Lee Hessenflow, Judy Marie Bowman, John Raymond Kraft, and Clifford Eugene Kraft. She was also preceded in death by Michael Kraft, Terri Swafford, and Chris Swafford, all of whom she raised during their youth. Survivors include her son Jeff Swafford and wife Vickie of Kansas City, Melvin and Donna Kraft of Belton, and Tom and Debbie Sveistrup of Richmond. Many grandkids, including Tanner Swafford of Tonganoxie, KS, Dillon Swafford, Madison Swafford, and Jake Swafford of Kansas City, Angela Kraft, Nicholas Kraft, and Michael Kraft of Belton, CJ Ivison, Jeffery Boguskie, Sebastian Sveistrup, and Jaidin Sveistrup of Richmond, and Damion Sveistrup of Owensboro, Kentucky, as well as many great grandkids, nieces, and nephews.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Richmond Christian Union Church. Memorial contributions can be mailed in care of the family to Thurman Funeral Home, 507 East Main Street, PO Box 190, Richmond, MO 64085.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on July 1st, 2025, at Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond, MO. Visitation will be held on June 30, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond, MO. Burial will be at Richmond Memory Gardens in Richmond, MO. Please remember to share your condolences and memories of Sug with the family at www.thurmanfuneralhome.com.