LaDonna Biggerstaff-Swayne Obituary (1929 - 2010)

Coffeyville - LaDonna Biggerstaff Swayne, age 81, of Shawnee, KS, former longtime Caney resident, passed away at her home on Monday evening, October 25, 2010. There will be a family visitation at the Potts Chapel in Caney (formerly Graves Funeral Home) on Friday, October 29, 2010, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Saturday, October 30, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Caney with the Rev. Harry Graves of Cunningham, KS, officiating. Interment will be at the Sunnyside Cemetery in Caney. Memorial contributions may be made to the Caney United Methodist Church and left with the David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 N. Cline, Coffeyville, KS, 67337, which is handling arrangements. LaDonna was born June 18, 1929, in Caney, Kansas to Lloyd and Effie (Hughes) Graves. She attended Caney schools and graduated from Caney High School in 1947. LaDonna married Earle Biggerstaff in May, 1948. Together they owned and operated the Graves Funeral Home in Caney, purchasing the business in 1970 from her parents and later and later opened Graves Funeral Home in Coffeyville. Earle passed away in November, 1987. In October, 1992, she married Bill (Sonny) Swayne and he preceded her in death. LaDonna was a licensed assistant funeral director and later worked at Calvert's department store in Independence. She was a lifetime member of the Caney Golf Course, Order of Eastern Star, holding the office of Past Worthy Matron. She was a Mother Advisor for the Order of Rainbow for Girls. LaDonna was a past president of the American Legion Auxillary and past president of PTA. She was a charter member of the Caney Historical Society, and served as ambassador. She also was a charter member of the Caney Alumni Association. She was an active member of the Caney United Methodist Church for 70 years. LaDonna was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Katherine Graves, and a son, Bradley Biggerstaff. She is survived by two daughters; Lori Biggerstaff and her husband, Greg DiMaggio; Becki Fink and husband Steve; a daughter-in-law, Jonita Biggerstaff; two grandsons, Jason Biggerstaff and wife, Samantha, and Braxton Fink; two granddaughters, Mindy and Katiemay Biggerstaff. One step-grandson, Steven Fink, one step granddaughter, Chelsea Fink: and one step great-granddaughter, Avery Fresbee. Tagged as: First United Methodist Church, Sunnyside Cemetery