- Funeral Home: Miles Funeral Service, Inc.
4001 East Ninth Avenue
Winfield, KS 67156
Tele: 620-221-1111
Mary Elizabeth Sweeney, 107, of Winfield, Kansas, passed away Monday, April 2, 2018 at Cumbernauld Village.
Born May 19, 1910 in Alva, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Charles Orthello "Dick" and Bertha Matilda (Drollinger) Green. She graduated from Alva High School in 1926 and Northwestern State Teachers College of Alva in May of 1930 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. She was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and the president of her chapter for two years. In 1930, she was a delegate to the national convention of Alpha Sigma Alpha in Swampscott, Massachusetts. She was also Pan Hellenic president her senior year. Elizabeth taught home economics, the first typing classes that were offered at Shattuck, Oklahoma High School, and business subjects from September of 1930 until May of 1938.
She was united in marriage to Fred Sweeney in Alva on July 14, 1938 and the couple made their home near Wellington, Kansas. Elizabeth taught two years of country grade school in District 90 and two years at Milan High School, where she taught home economics and business subjects. She returned to Alva with her son, Larry during WWII while Fred served in the US Navy Seabees. She returned to Shattuck High School and taught business subjects from September 1943 to May 1945 when Fred returned from the service. The family lived in Alva for four years before purchasing a motel in Fort Scott, Kansas in 1949. They operated the hotel for three years and moved to Winfield on July 31, 1952. When her son, Charles was eight years old, Elizabeth began a three-year duty as a Cub Scout den mother at the First Baptist Church's Pack 315.
In February 1957, Elizabeth began teaching for the Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, at Chilocco Indian School in Chilocco, Oklahoma in the special Navajo program. She went from the special Navajo program to the home economics department and then to the academic department. While there, she earned a Master's Degree in Secondary Education at Oklahoma University, and she was among the first selected for the merit teaching program at Chilocco. She taught at Chilocco until her retirement in May of 1975.
Elizabeth was active in several different organizations. She was a member of the Winfield Community Council, serving two years, 1983 to 1985 as president. She was a member of the Cowley County Home Economists, an organization of college home economics majors, and served as both president and secretary. She was a member of the Liberal Arts Study Club and served as president. Elizabeth was also a member of the American Association of University Women, William Newton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary sewing group and a member of various extension groups.
In 2006, Elizbeth was able to attend the 75th Anniversary Reunion of the first high school graduating class that she taught, at Shattuck, the Class of 1931. She and one of her former students were the only members of that class who were still living.
Church was always important to Elizabeth, since her baptism at the age of nine at First Baptist Church in Alva. In Winfield, she was a member of the First Baptist Church where she taught in the Sunday School Junior Department and the R.F.M. (Really Faithful Members) Women's Bible Class for more than 35 years. She was a member of the Esther Circle and served as its leader. She also helped many years with Vacation Bible School and was a member of several boards and committees.
When the Laotian refugees came to Winfield, Elizabeth worked with several families, helping them with the English language and adjusting to American customs. She helped several families fulfill their citizenship requirements. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, tatting and teaching others those skills.
Elizabeth's family includes:
Her son: Charles Sweeney of Killeen, TX;
Her grandchildren: Charles Sweeney, II of Seattle, WA; Richard Buller of Jennings, LA; and
Her great grandson: Justin Patrick Sweeney of Seattle, WA.
In addition to her parents, Elizabeth was preceded in death by a son, Larry in 1983, her husband, Fred, in 1969 and two brothers and three sisters.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 9, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. at First Baptist Church in Winfield. Interment will be held that afternoon at 3:00 P.M. at the Alva City Cemetery in Alva, Oklahoma. A visitation will be held on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 P.M. at Miles Funeral Service. The family will greet visitors during this time.
A memorial has been established in Elizabeth's name for First Baptist Church. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.
Elizabeth (Green) Sweeney was born on May 19, 1910, in Alva Oklahoma, at the home of her parents, Charles Orthello "Dick" and Bertha Matilda (Drollinger) Green. Shortly after her birth, her mother had the First Baptist Church of Alva, OK, begin a ?Cradle Roll? of newborn children of church members, a tradition that remains to this day. Her name is the first name listed on their Cradle Roll. She graduated from Alva High School in 1926, and from Northwestern State Teachers College (later became Northwestern Oklahoma State University) of Alva, Oklahoma, in May of 1930, with a Bachelors of Science degree in Home Economics. She was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and the president of her chapter for two years. In 1930, she was a delegate to the national convention of Alpha Sigma Alpha in Swampscott, Massachusetts. She also was Pan Hellenic president her senior year. She taught home economics, the first typing classes that were offered at Shattuck (Oklahoma) High School, and business subjects from September 1930 until May of 1938.
She married the late Fred Sweeney at Alva, Oklahoma, on July 14, 1938, and they made their first home near Wellington, Kansas. While there, Elizabeth taught two years of country grade school (September 1938 to May 1940) in District 90, and two years at Milan (Kansas) High School (September 1940 to May 1942) where she taught home economics and business subjects.
During World War II, Fred served in the US Navy Seabees in the Pacific theater as a Chief Electricians Mate. Elizabeth returned to her parents? home in Alva, Oklahoma.
On October 16, 1942, their first son, the late Larry Sweeney, was born at Alva General Hospital. Elizabeth returned to Shattuck High School where she taught business subjects from September 1943 to May 1945 when Fred returned from service in the Pacific theater.
They lived in Alva for four years. Their second son, Charles Sweeney was born April 12, 1947 at Alva Osteopathic Hospital. In 1949, they purchased a motel in Fort Scott, Kansas, which they operated for three years. They moved to her present home in Winfield, Kansas on July 31, 1952. When Charles was eight years old, Elizabeth began a three-year duty as a Cub Scout den mother at the First Baptist Church's Pack 315.
In February of 1957, Elizabeth started teaching for the Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, at Chilocco Indian School at Chilocco, Oklahoma, in the special Navajo program. She taught at Chilocco until her retirement in May of 1975. She went from the special Navajo program to the home economics department and then to the Academic Department. While teaching there she earned a masters degree in secondary education from Oklahoma University, and she was among the first selected for the merit-teaching program at Chilocco.
Through the years, Elizabeth was active in several different organizations. She was a member of the Winfield (Kansas) Community Council, serving two years (1983 to 1985) as president. She was a member of the Cowley County Home Economists, an organization of college home economics majors, and served as both president and secretary. She was a member of the Liberal Arts Study Club and served as president. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women, William Newton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary sewing group, and a member of various extension groups.
In 1981, she was invited to attend the 50-year High School reunion at Shattuck, Oklahoma, where the first class she had taught graduated in May of 1931. The reunion developed into the 50-Plus Club that meets annually in October. In 2006, Elizabeth was able to attend the 75th Anniversary Reunion of the first graduating class that she taught, the Class of 1931, where she and one of her students were the only members of that class who were still living. She enjoyed attending every year until health concerns prevented her from going.
Elizabeth's church has always been important since her baptism at the age of nine at First Baptist Church, Alva, Oklahoma. In Winfield, Kansas, she is a member of the First Baptist Church. She taught in the Sunday School Junior Department, and taught the R.F.M. (Really Faithful Members) Women's Bible Class for more than 35 years. She is a member of Esther Circle and served as its leader. She also helped many years with the Vacation Bible School and was a member of several boards and committees.
When the Laotian refugees came to Winfield, Elizabeth worked with several families, helping them with the English language and adjusting to American customs. She helped several families fulfill their citizenship requirements.
In 2010 Elizabeth received her 80-year anniversary graduation pin from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The President of Northwestern made the comment that she was the oldest living graduate of the University.
On 9 July 2013 her 103d birthday was mentioned on the air by Willard Scott of the NBC TODAY Show.
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Name of Celebrant: Mary Elizabeth Sweeney
Date of Birth: May 19, 1910
Interests, hobbies, secrets of longevity, vocation, et cetera:
Hobbies: Sewing, knitting, crocheting, tatting, and teaching others how to do the same. Although her eyesight is beginning to fail, she continued for several years to knit dishcloths and pin cushions to give as gifts. Her joy of learning has continued using Talking Books as she listens to biographies and non-fiction stories about people and topics of current interest.
Secrets of longevity: Staying busy by visiting with the many friends who drop by, learning and trying new things, sharing her anecdotes and research with others, approaching each day with humor, and cheering for the University of Oklahoma's football team.
Vocation: Teaching high school from September of 1930 until retirement in May of 1975.
In October of 2006, she was able to attend the 75th Anniversary Reunion of the first High School graduating class that she taught, the Class of 1931, at Shattuck, Oklahoma High School.
In April of 2010, she attended the 80th Anniversary Reunion of her College Graduating Class at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, at Alva, Oklahoma.
Her motto: Every day is a blessing. GO SOONERS!
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1910 - 2018 (107 years)
