Anita Ann Sweeden, 56, of Van Buren passed away Sunday, March 4, 2018. She was born October 15, 1961 in Atkins, AR to the late Art and Erma Ruth (Mitchell) Sweeden. Her parents and a brother Glenn Sweeden preceded her in death.
Anita Ann Sweeden was a free spirit who lived life to the fullest and traveled much during her short time on this earth. She went to grade school in Van Buren, AR and made a lifelong friend in Carol Reeves who was always there for her. She then moved to Atkins, AR where she became a cheerleader and basketball star. Her classmates loved her as she did them and she continued a relationship with many of them until the end. She became very close with Sandy Kyle and her family; she considered them family and maintained a close relationship with her sons Jesse and Kody as well as Dorothy and her sister Jane even after Sandy is passing. Anita loved the Lord with all her heart and expressed that to everyone she knew. She served in the navy and was honored to be able to serve her country. After she left the navy, she worked as a caretaker at the state hospital in Tiffin, OH. She then became a registered nurse and worked on the cancer floor at Sparks’s hospital in Fort Smith where she touched everyone she met; she loved taking care of others and genuinely cared about her patients. After the major earthquake in Turkey, she traveled to Istanbul to assist people in need. She loved her daughter, son in law and dogs more than anything did and she will be greatly missed by them. She had a huge heart and was always willing to help someone in need and her acts of love and kindness will never be forgotten.
Memorial service will be 1:00 PM Monday at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith with burial to follow at Fort Smith National Cemetery with Navy Military Honors.
Her daughter Gerri Hendrix and husband Matthew of Fort Smith, her sister Abigail Welcher of Mims, FL, niece Jennifer Craft and nephew Seth Sweeden, survive her.
Visitation will be Sunday afternoon from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the funeral home.
