Elsie Lou (Linville) Swearengin passed away of natural causes Nov. 17 at Harney District Hospital, surrounded by her loves ones.

Elsie was born Nov. 16, 1930, in Wapello, Iowa, to James Andrew and Edna Lavina Linville. Her family moved to  Rickreall in 1937. She met her husband of 56 years, Kenneth Swearengin, in Newburg. They were married Aug. 2, 1963. Kenneth moved her and her four kids from a previous marriage to the ZX ranch in Paisley. They then spent the rest of their life together raising six kids and moving from ranch to ranch in Lake and Harney counties.

Elsie waited tables and tended bar from time to time. She cooked on the ZX ranch and was the last cook at the MC Ranch. She was a “helluva woman and a damn good cook, and the best mother and grandmother.”

Elsie is survived by her husband, Kenneth; children, Cheryl Hefley, Donna and (Pat) Stead, Robert Swearengin, Debbie and (David) Lee, Terri and (Pete) Bronson, and David and (Cassie) Swearengin; grandchildren, Maggi Walker, James Hill, Jeffery Hill, Shannon Grei, Stacey Anderson, KC Swearengin, Kevin Swearengin, Chris Lee, Becky Simpson, Jesica and (Jake) Berry, Chelsi Delic, Nathan Swearengin and Shelby Swearengin; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday Nov. 22, at the Burns Cemetery.