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November 16, 1939 — February 11, 2024
Mom never cared for the name “Aleta,” so sorry Mom, that we are starting off your Obituary with your full name. Mom was funny, sociable, loved to travel, and enjoyed watching her family expand. Mom was very opinionated (yes, we are putting that in here too.) She had a look, that when aimed at you - told you she did not agree with you or you had just messed up. Mom could also light up a room with her smile, humor, and interest in you.
Mom was very giving of her talents, time, and energy. She was always volunteering or joining a club or organization. The PTA mom, the little league mom, the chaperone - she embodied these roles with class and enthusiasm. She became second Mom to many of the neighborhood kids and friends of her children. Throughout her life, Mom also joined the Lockheed Wive’s club, a bowling team, the Country Cuzzins square-dancing club, a clogging group, and her beloved sorority in Marble Falls, Delta Zeta Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha. As a young person, Mom participated in gymnastics, swimming, and tennis. She passed her athleticism on to her children.
Mom also loved watching sports especially the Longhorns. She often had two games playing on two TV’s simultaneously. Mom enjoyed card games and board games too! One of Mom’s proudest achievements in life was NEVER getting a ticket. Her father was a DPS officer, so that instilled her deep respect for the law and helped her in this achievement. She was also very proud of the years she spent at Seller’s Brothers grocery as a Bookkeeper. This job allowed her to be the incredible mother she was, running her children to all their ventures after work and school hours, while also helping support the family in more ways than one. Mom was also very artistic. As children, we were always tagging along to a ceramic shop or painting class, etc. She made mosaic tables, sidewalks, and other things out of broken tile. She was playing artistic Tetris before the game came out. Mom took up stained glass for many years when she and Dad lived in Granite Shoals. Dad would build the frames for her pieces and they worked in harmony creating beautiful assemblies we continue to admire. Above all, her strongest characteristics were that she was a fiercely strong, loyal independent woman who was devoted to her family. Mom had old school ethics, values and morals.
Mary Swanzy was born November 16, 1939 in Amarillo, Texas and passed on February 11, 2024. Her parents were C.O. Layne and Peggy Layne, and she had one sister, Fran Landry. As a young family, they moved to several towns in Texas as the Texas Department of Public Safety placed them. In Mom’s teen years, they moved to Beaumont for several years. Fun fact, Mom saw Elvis at a Rodeo or simi-lar venue in Beaumont in the early days of his career. Yes -she screamed. Yes - her Dad chaperoned her and didn’t care for the screaming. Mom loved Beaumont and all her friends there. She was deeply disappointed when the family moved just before her Senior Year in High School to Austin, Texas. After graduating from Austin High School, her parents gave her a choice of college or work. Mom decided the University of Texas in Austin sounded like the better option. Around the time Mom started college, she met her future husband, Paul Calvin Swanzy. They were engaged Christmas of 1958 and married March 7, 1959. On their Honeymoon they drove to California for work and their first two children, Teri and Rusty, were born there. They then were transferred to Oklahoma where Larry was born, completing their beau-tiful family. They moved to Houston, Texas when NASA was just being built. Dad worked for Lockheed at NASA for many years. It was an exciting time to be a part of that community dur-ing the moon landing years. Mom and Dad then moved to the Washington DC area for a couple of years in the 1980’s. Mom befriended several neighbors there and was very surprised to learn that most of the neighbors had not been to each other’s homes. Well, she changed that. Mom enjoyed when family came to visit while they were in the DC area. She loved playing tour guide. Next, they moved to Austin, where Dad retired from Lockheed. After a few years enjoying Austin, they began looking for a place to retire. They found a lovely home on Lake LBJ in Granite Shoals and quickly began making friends, traveling with the Bluebonnet Club, volunteering, and enjoying the lake life. They decided to move to Meadowlakes in Marble Falls when keeping up the dock and waterfront were no longer appealing. Dad passed away in 2007 shortly after they moved to Meadowlakes. Dad was very honored to set Mom up in her forever home, and one that she was very proud of. She decorated for every season, making it a warm and welcome place for friends and family to visit.
Mom’s list of friends and family is endless. Although sad that she outlived many of her dear friends and family, she was a tad competitive. She wanted to live the longest in her immediate family and she accomplished her one fi-nal goal. Mom was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Swanzy after 48 years of marriage, her parents, C.O. and Peggy Layne, and her sister, Fran Landry, and niece Mary Denise Landry.
Mom is survived by her children, Teri Moss and husband Bennett, Russell “Rusty” Swanzy, Lawrence “Larry” Swanzy and wife Jayme. Her wonderful broth-er-in-law, Gene Landry and his wife Toni. Her sisters-in-law, Jane Prater and Martha O’Quinn. And “lots” of nieces and nephews and cousins.
Mom became a “TuTu” when her oldest Grandchild was born in Hawaii. This delighted Mom to have a cool Grandmother name and a reason to visit Maui and the Humpback Whales often.
TuTu is survived by her grandchildren, Malia Moss, Jacob Moss and wife Angela, Chase Swanzy and wife Ashley, Dylan Swanzy, Brennan Moss and partner Trevor, Morgan Prine and husband Mason, Calvin Swanzy and partner Caitlyn, and Mackenzie Nelms and husband Jon.
“TuTu” became a Great TuTu with the arrival of her Great Grandchildren, Atlas Paul Swanzy, Jocelynne Moss, Nomi Thompson, Guilligan Prine, Nash Thompson and Oliver Swanzy. And Millie Moss is due in May. Step great grandchildren Avery Nelms, Paizley Gray Nelms, and Easton Nelms.
We would like to thank Accent Care in Marble Falls and the team at the Skilled Nursng Facility at Brookdale in Lakeway for taking good care of Mom in her final days. We would also like to thank Erin Curra-Spurger in the Baylor Scott and White Neurology department for her compassion and education on Mom’s condition. Mom also deeply trusted her longtime physician, Dr. Scott Liggett, who was so kind and caring.
Visitation will be 2/17/2024 at 11:00 am followed by Funeral Service at noon, both at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, Marble Falls. Burial will be at the Marble Falls City Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at: www. clementswilcox funeralhome. com