Mary Sweeton, born Mary Ruth Young, March 16, 1925 in Peebles, Ohio, spent her early years there. She was active singing at her church and being a teenager. She graduated from Peebles High School in 1943.

After high school, she went to Dayton, Ohio to work at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. She worked there during WWII and it was during that time she met Ralph Perry Sweeton. They courted and married February 3, 1945. Ralph went over seas and Mary continued working at the base as a stenographer and secretary.

Ralph returned to the States and they made their home in Dayton. They started their family there, with a boy, Randy, and two years later, a girl, Nancy. Mary was a homemaker while Ralph worked for Huffman Bicycle factory.

In 1952, they moved to Rock Port, and Mary continued to be a homemaker for the family, adding to it with a girl in 1957, Maralee. She worked steadily bringing lunches to Ralph and his crew and as an occasional waitress at the Sale Barn Cafe, as he worked at shelling corn, trucking, and various endeavors. In 1962, Ralph and Mary moved outside Rock Port to their current residence. In the 1970’s, after the three children were mostly raised, Mary started working at The Rock Port Market grocery store. She worked there for many years. Later, she babysat her grandchildren. She again returned to work at Jack and Jill grocery store. Her last job consisted of working at the Senior Citizen’s Nutrition Site in Rock Port.

Mary was active in the American Legion Auxiliary, the Rough Rider’s Saddle Club in Westboro, numerous horse shows, and school events in which her children participated.

After a lengthy battle with cancer, Mary passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at her home in Rock Port with her family by her side. Mary’s personality, sense of humor, and wit will be missed by all.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Virgie Young, her sisters, Ruby Sowder, Edith Thomas, Mabel Parmley and Gladys Grooms, all of Ohio.

Her survivors include her husband, Ralph, of the home, children, Randy and Diana Sweeton, of Liberty, MO, Nancy and Barry Mutzbauer, of Springfield, IL, and Maralee and Kevin Dinsdale, Sedalia, MO. She is survived by 8 grandchildren; Lynda Sweeton, Christina Sweeton, Robin Hughes, Ryan Sweeton, Robert Sweeton, Anthony Mutzbauer, Brett Mutzbauer and Randi Milne, 2 great grandchildren; Erica Mutzbauer and Jackson Schmidt, and sister, Maude Nichols, El Paso, Texas.

Funeral Service: 1:00 PM, Friday, March 20, 2009, Christian Church, Rock Port.
Interment: Hunter Cemetery, Rock Port.
Visitation: 7:00 – 8:00 PM, Thursday, March 19th, at Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.
Memorials: Rock Port Nutrition Center or the Christian Church, Rock Port.
Services under the direction of Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.