Patsy Bonita Faye Black Swann

1932 - 2015

1932 - 2015

ODESSA Bittersweet. July 20, 2015 is best described as bittersweet. Our sweet mother finally got to go home.

Patsy was born in Colorado City on November 28, 1932. She was born to Willard Hiram "Buck" Black and Molly "Blanche" Black.

Her childhood was like many of the depression era. Those lean times instilled in her a will to survive and be successful. Most of all, she knew she would have to be educated. Her financial situation did not allow her to go to college even though she graduated in the top of her class. So she began to read – a lot. This was her best chance to learn about life and anything that interested her.

She instilled a love for reading in all three of her children. At the age of 19, she married the man who first caught her eye when they were in the 7th grade. Stoneham "Smokey" Swann was the love of her life. They settled in Odessa and raised three children. Patsy was a homemaker and the primary bookkeeper for their many business ventures. She also loved to sew, garden (she had the best strawberry beds ever!), cook (best enchiladas ever!), was a pastel artist, loved to decorate and remodel houses. Patsy and Smokey were improving and flipping properties long before HGTV was a household name. They bought two wings of an old veteran's hospital, moved them to Odessa to remodel and move into. She worked right alongside Smokey and learned how to be a carpenter, as well. Their combined creativity lit a fire and led the way for their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to express themselves. Thanks Mom for the artistic genes!

Patsy had a wicked sense of humor (and no filter) and continually surprised us with her take on life. She was shy early in life, but grew to never know a stranger. She loved to dance and taught all the grandkids to two-step and do the Charleston. If you ever had a problem, she knew exactly what to say to soothe it. She demanded the spot light at family gatherings and got it! Most of all, she loved God and her family. She most assuredly knew where she was going after death.

Patsy was preceded in death by her husband, Smokey, her parents, and her oldest brother. She is survived by her younger brother: Rodney Black and wife Camilla; sister-in-law: Daisy Black; son: Terry Swann and wife Kim; and daughters: Sheryl Huckabay and husband Rickey and Randi Wright and husband Jeff. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and their spouses; thirteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and a future great-grandson due on her birthday, November 28th.

We are eternally grateful for her longtime caregiver, Mary Collins. We are also grateful for Margaret Shannon, another longtime caregiver, and the Hospice nurses and bathers for their tender care during this difficult time.

Memorial services will be privately held. For information about the memorial, call Sheryl at (432) 208-3226.

RIP Mother LOVE YOU ALWAYS