Kenneth Laverne Swan, 94, was born on July 3rd, 1931, in Walnut Ridge, AR to Alvie Swan and Coreen Smith Swan. He was married to Mary Lou Haynes for almost 40 years.

He passed away in Paragould, AR on June 26th, after living in Paragould for 26 years. 

He is survived by Brenda Fullen, a cousin who was like a daughter to him; a niece, Tanya (Steve) Raney; and a nephew, Daniel (Karen); as well as great nephews; Andrew and Tanner Raney and Devon and Dalton Swan.

Kenneth graduated from Hoxie High School and earned a Bachelor's, Master's, and Specialist's degree from Arkansas State University and his Doctorate degree from St. Louis University. He earned the rank of Major in the Army and had once considered making a career in the military. He could tell wild tales of conducting basic training. 

He taught at Walnut Ridge and at the Pocahontas Elementary in his early years. He later was an elementary principal at Coverdell in St. Charles, Missouri for 20 years. He served on the St. Charles school board. 

He and Mary Lou loved to go to Branson to see the country music artists. To attend these shows was easily done by them at the time because they were living in the Springfield or St. Charles, MO area. They often saw the artist before the artist became famous. 

Upon their retiring they moved to Sun City West, Arizona. Unfortunately, Mary Lou became ill shortly upon moving there and passed away. Kenneth continued to live there for about six years where he was active in his church and with local senior group that traveled across the United States. He, also, served as an informal, unpaid tour guide for all his friends and relatives that came out to see him as he took them to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Petrified Forest, etc. He referred to his home as the "Dude Ranch".

After living in Arizona, Kenneth then moved to Paragould where he became involved with the Retired Military Association serving one year as president and the Lions Club serving as secretary for two years. In 2007, he received "Lion of the Year" award. He was a charter member in establishing the Greene County Museum. He donated his time, work, and money to the museum. 

During the summers after moving to Paragould, he would travel the United States once again with his cousin, Brenda; his cousin Linda and Linda's husband, Cloyce. He has traveled to all the states except for Hawaii. It was an adventure traveling to Kodiak Island to see his niece and her family. 

Kenneth and Mary Lou valued the importance of education and discussed what they could do for education. They decided on a scholarship program for students that might not otherwise qualify for assistance. Upon his wife's death, Kenneth established a scholarship endowment fund at the Arkansas State University in her honor. As a result of this endowment scholarship, five students complete education expenses have been fully funded through this endowment. The scholarship is for elementary or secondary education majors with preference being given to elementary education since Mary Lou was an elementary reading teacher. If anyone would like to contribute to the scholarship endowment in his honor, the contact needed to be reached is Dr. Erica Chudy at Arkansas State University.

The family expresses their appreciation to Greene Acres Nursing Home for the wonderful and compassionate care that he received. Dierksen Hospice was also, a blessing. 

Cremation has been chosen as final disposition. There will be a private family service in Pocahontas under the direction of McNabb Funeral Home on a later date.