Mary Lou Beeson, age 90, of Losantville, passed away on Monday, March 26, at Reid Hospital.
Born June 25, 1927 to Vaughn and Ivalue (Downing) Swoveland in Blountsviile, Indiana, Mary Lou lived her entire life within a twenty-five mile radius of Wayne County. She was a retiree from Dana Corporation in Hagerstown, where she began work after the birth of her four children.
In addition to her work experience at Dana Corporation, Mary Lou and her husband Vic had interest in motorcycles. They hosted motorcycle races at their farm near Dalton, Indiana in the late 1950s, and they owned and operated Beeson Harley-Davidson Sales in Muncie, Indiana during the 1960s.
After moving to the Losantville area in 1972, Mary Lou and Vic became interested in camping and muzzle-loading shotgun events. They were both members of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association.
A short time before her retirement, Mary Lou became quite an accomplished seamstress. Her specialties were quilting and needle work. Many of her quilts were donated to various organizations for fundraising projects, and she made sure that all of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren had at least one of her quilts.
Mary Lou is survived by son Michael (Stephanie) Beeson of Hagerstown, son Robert Beeson of Muncie, daughter Sheila Shaw of Jacksonville, Florida, daughter Beverly Garringer of Losantville, brother John (Betty) Swoveland of Hagerstown, twelve grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 69 years, Victor, sister Shirley Murray, sister Joyce Murray, sister Delores Johnson, brother Keith Swoveland, and son-in-law Michael Garringer.
Services will be at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, April 3 at Culberson Funeral Home, Hagerstown. Pastor Rick Alvey will officiate. Burial will be in the Nettle Creek Friends Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 P.M. Monday, April 2 at Culberson Funeral Home.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Nelson L. Harrison Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Jackie Harrison, 298 South Perry, Hagerstown, IN 47346 or the Losantville Volunteer Fire Department.