Mrs. Mary Dillard Swanger

Mary Dillard Swanger passed from this life to her eternal life at age 77 on August 2, 2010. She passed at a local hospital after a short illness surrounded by her family. She was the eldest daughter of Wilsie and Everett Dillard of Waynesville, NC.

She graduated from Waynesville High School and after high school she married her high school sweetheart Amon Swanger. They moved to Pensacola Naval Base during his service in the Korean War and after the Navy they moved with his job until settling in Chattanooga in 1965. She raised four boys while her husband worked.

She was a volunteer at Parkridge Hospital for over 15 years, active member of Brainerd and Ridgedale Baptist Churches, very active in her Sunday School Classes and the Brainerd Kiwanis Auxiliary. Her delight and joy was caring for her family and making things easier for them. She loved preparing meals for them and was an excellent cook. She enjoyed preparing scrapbooks to journal the lives of her grandchildren. Mary had all the qualities of a true southern lady.

Mrs. Swanger was preceded in death by her eldest son, Dr. Roger Swanger, her parents Wilsie & Everett Dillard, , a sister Johnnie Sue Caldwell and her only brother., Kenneth Dillard..

She is survived by her husband of 59 years Mr. Amon Swanger, sons Edward Swanger, Michael Swanger and his wife Billie, all of Chattanooga, a son Dr. Russell Swanger and his wife Jamy of Augusta, GA., nine grandchildren Nicole, Danielle, Jessica, Lee, Rachel, Abby, Logan, R.J. and Blake Swanger. She is also survived by a sister, Jo Ellen Dillard of Waynesville, NC, several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 5, 2010 at Ridgedale Baptist Church with Dr. Bill Owens and Dr. Winford L. Hendrix officiating. Entombment will follow at Hamilton Memorial Gardens. Active pallbearers will be R. D. McCrary, Lee Swanger, Gerald Owens, Howard Gentry, Keith Calvin, and Murl Jackson. The Harvest Sunday School Class will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 4 until 7 P.M. on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Building Program at Ridgedale Baptist Church, 1831 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421 or Building Program at Brainerd Baptist Church, 300 Brookfield Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37411.

Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist, East Brainerd Chapel, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.