Bessie Lucille Swanson

Bessie “Betty” Lucille (Abney) Swanson

Betty passed away from heart disease/cancer on Saturday, July 25, 2020 surrounded by her children in Arlington, Texas. Betty was born Bessie Lucille Abney to (father) Hershel Sanfred Abney and (mother) Hattie Roxie Althea (Sutherland) Abney in Camp, Arkansas on August 27, 1937.

Betty loved to share memories of her childhood growing up on the farm where her Father was a blacksmith and ran a sawmill. She began her career as a nurse in Arkansas before moving to Texas. She had a love for music that included singing and writing songs which were later recorded and sang by Bill Swanson. She had a deep love for her family and her Abney and Sutherland heritage and for years coordinated the Abney/Sutherland Family Reunions which were held in Arkansas and Missouri. Though she lived most of her adult life in Texas, Arkansas was always her home in her heart. She loved having large family gatherings of any kind and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She married William C Sutterfield at a young age and had three children. Later she was married to Donald Cockrell and had another child. Lastly, she married Bill Swanson who had four children from a previous marriage and together they formed a blended family of nine. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother, friend and was a member of Horseshoe Bend First Baptist Church.

Betty is preceded in death by her daughter (Pamela Uyvonne Sutterfield), parents, husband (Bill Swanson), sisters (Margaret June Abney, Martha Jane Abney, Lillian Lorraine Strauser, and Anna Lea Shaw), brother (Newton Sanfred Abney) and grandchildren (Billy John Frampton, Stacy Jo Swanson and Wendy Ann Myers.

She is survived in death by her two sons, Hershel Stanley Sutterfield (Anne Marie) of Log Cabin, Texas and Steven Arnold Swanson (Cheryl) of Tool, Texas; five daughters, Kathy Lynn Partridge of Ft. Worth, Texas, Sondra Jean Cockrell Nevil (Larry) of Grand Prairie, Texas, Yvonne Swanson Mayo (Ronnie) of Mesquite, Texas, Yvette Swanson Morton of Mesquite, Texas and Patricia Ann Swanson of Mesquite, Texas; thirteen grandchildren, Jonathan Shane Partridge (LaDonna), Crystal Renee Sutterfield Ramendon, Samuel Lynn Russell (Angela), Pamela Jean Frampton, Johnny D. Sutterfield, Becky Gates, Karen Mayo, Abby Mayo, Jennifer Holt, Scott Morton (Wendy), Stephen Paul Swanson, Jewel Rains (Brody) and James Coston; many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; sister, Elvera Joyce Tullis (Mike) of Deepwater, Missouri; brother, Johnny Ray Abney (Joy) of Calhoun, Missouri; many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, July 31, 2020 at Barker Funeral Home in Salem, Arkansas with Bro. John Hodges officiating. Visitation will be 10:00 A.M. until time of service on Friday, July 31, 2020 at Barker Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Camp Cemetery in Camp, Arkansas. Pallbearers will be the family. Arrangements are under the direction of Barker Funeral Home in Salem, Arkansas.