Palestine High School Alumni Association

07 / 19 / 1890  –  11 / 17 / 1971

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Christian Church for Mrs. E.V. Swift, who died at 3:50 p.m. Wednesday in a local hospital.  She had entered the hospital Monday morning following a heart attack.  The funeral service will be conducted by Dr. Robert L. Badgett and burial will follow in New Addition Cemetery.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Swift was active in the First Christian Church and its women’s organizations.  She also was a civic leader and did volunteer work at Memorial Hospital.  During World War II she contributed much time to local war work.

The former Miss Rana Egan was born in Palestine July 19, 1890, the daughter of pioneer residents of the town.  In 1909 she was married to the late E.V. Swift aslso a member of an easy Palestine family.  Just out of law school at the time of the marriage, E.V. Swift served as a prominent lawyer in Palestine until his death in 1948.  He was county judge when the present Anderson County courthouse was built.

In 1917 Judge and Mrs. Swift build a handsome two story home on Highway 84, the Rusk road, on land they owned three miles east of Palestine.  Because of her love of plants and animals, and the open country, Mrs. Swift lived in the big home until her death.

Her survivors include five children:  Dr. Edward V. Swift, Marble Falls; Leroy E. Swift, Houston; Mrs. George Y. McCoy, Dallas; Mrs. Felton E. Brown, Dallas; and Ernest Swift , Palestine.  Also surviving are 13 grandchildren and a great grandson.

A sister-in-law, Mrs. Boone Hombs, resides in Palestine as does her brother-in-law, W. E. Swift.  A number of more distant relatives also live in Palestine.

Source:  Palestine Herald Press