Rosella Pearl (Cline) “Rose” Swafford died Sunday, July 24, 2022, at North Kansas City Hospital. 

Rose was born Sept. 14, 1934, in Kansas City, MO, the daughter of Luke William Cline and Lottie Belle (Rodgers) Cline.  She was united in marriage to Charles Austin Swafford on Oct. 17, 1952, in Richmond.  He preceded her in death on Nov. 22, 2015. 

Survivors include children, Gary (Pam) Swafford of Round Rock, TX, Kathy (Jim) Jackson of Lee’s Summit, MO, Ricky (Lola) Swafford of Warsaw, MO and Mike (Trina) Swafford of Billings, MT; sister-in-law, Joanne O’Dell of Richmond; 10 grandchildren, Austin (Carly) Swafford, Lauren (James) Bingham, Chase (Jessica) Swafford, Jessica (Ben) Angelette, Rachel (Chad) Fockler, Tyler Jackson, Kim Tapia, Chris (Sherri) Swafford, Heather Justin and Tiffany Hodge-Kimball; 23 great-grandchildren, Keagan Kor, Kenton Mayhone, Kaden Mayhone, Cal Bingham, Ellie, Nora, and Chip Swafford, Jack, Graham, Daphne, Bianca, and Quentin Angelette, Carson, Natalie, and Elaina Fockler, Alice, Thomas, and Charlotte Jackson, Calan Walker, Serphina Tapia, Jenna, Kaydence and Isabella Swafford. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Lisa Swafford; and brother, Luke (Carroll) Cline. 

Rose graduated from Richmond High School in 1952.  She attended Secretarial School in Kansas City the following year. She was a dedicated and loyal employee throughout her careers.  Through the years, she worked as a waitress at the Richmond Hotel, assisted her brother-in-law with a café in Rayville, was a proprietor of the Richmond Sale Barn Luncheon Café, sold Avon products and Sarah Coventry jewelry, and was a cook at the Richmond High School Cafeteria.  Rose worked in the catalog department of National Bellas Hess in North Kansas City, later working in the catalog department of JC Penney, first in Richmond, then Excelsior Springs, Metro-North, and Tiffany Springs Shopping Center.  She worked for JC Penney for over 40 years, retiring then returning to work part-time for several years.   

Rose was a member of the Jolly Jills, a group of young mothers that began in the 1950’s, continuing for seven decades with lifelong friends.  As a member of the Eastern Star, Rose served in many leadership positions.  She was a dedicated member, always willing to help in any capacity, traveling to cities across the state, attending events and serving as a representative of her state chapter, and to events in other states.  Charles and Rose were active members of the Shrine Club of Richmond, also serving in leadership roles in regional and state positions.  They enjoyed traveling, attending gatherings and parades, supporting the Shriner Children’s Hospital endeavors, to help children with special needs. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made in memory of Rose to either the Shriner’s Hospital for Children or to the CACNA 1-A Foundation.  They can be left at or mailed to Thurman Funeral Home, 507 East Main Street-P.O. Box 190, Richmond, MO 64085. 

A celebration of Rose’s life will be held on Friday, July 29, 2022, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Skiles Event Center in Richmond.  A traditional visitation with memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at Richmond First Baptist Church, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m., with an Order of the Eastern Star service at 10:45 a.m., with her memorial service to follow at 11 a.m.  Inurnment will be held at a later date in Richmond Memory Gardens.   

Please remember to share your memories of Rose with the family by visiting thurmanfuneralhome.com.