Helen (DeMouth) Swearingen

Helen Louise (DeMouth) Swearingen, 94, passed away on May 31, 2023, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. She was born in Boone, Iowa on May 20, 1929, to Edward and Geneva (Craven) Williams and later adopted and raised by Franklin and Cora (Adamson) Williams after the death of her mother.

Helen was a member of DAR-Daughters of The American Revolution and International Blue Willow Collectors. She owned and operated Grandma Helen’s Antique store in Walnut, Iowa. A highlight during her years of collecting was being selected for a spot on the Antique Roadshow. Helen also sold antiques at the Majestic Lion and Brass Armadillo.

In her youth, Helen was active in the Boone Scotties Drum and Bugle Corp. The Scotties traveled the country performing in competitions and marching in parades. She began her role as the mascot at age 8 and continued to become the majorette. In 1946, at age 17, she was chosen as the National Strutting Drum Majorette in a competition in Boston, MA.

Helen is survived by her children, Donna (Larry) Shaner, Sheryl DeMouth (Norm Roesener), Jerry (Pam) DeMouth, Patrick DeMouth, Janet (Corey) Henderson, Linda Cummings (Jim Vavra), Frankie DeMouth (Danny Batt) and step children, Vickie (Gary) Tobis, Becky (Rick) Buckley and Don Swearingen. She will be remembered as Grandma Helen to 17 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

Helen was blessed to have had two adoring husbands. She married Donald DeMouth in 1947 and they were happy together for 42 years, until his death in 1989. She later met and married Dean Swearingen and they enjoyed a life of travel and wintering in Florida until his passing in 2010. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Everette Williams and Eugene Williams.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines. The family will receive visitors on Monday, June 5, 2023 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., at the funeral home.

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