Nancy Rae McKissick Swena, 81, followed her sweet husband to Heaven on September 4, 2020.  We can only imagine the tender reunion it must have been as Gene was there to greet her, tapping his watch, asking why she was late.  Those of us left behind feel like our hearts have been shattered, but we cannot deny how happy she must be, knowing this is what she has prayed for the last 35 days since Pugga left us.

Our Mugga was born in Salt Lake City, Utah February 26, 1939 to Marjorie Greenwood and Jack McKissick.  She grew up in Park City, Utah. It was in Park City where she met the love of her life, Gene Swena. One of her proudest moments was when she became a mother to Kelli. They spent the years raising Kelli in Kamas, Utah.  In 1983, they moved to Las Vegas for the job that Gene would retire from in 2000.   After that, they relocated to Grace, Idaho to be closer to Kelli and her kids.  Nancy always told us her years in Grace were some of her favorite.

Nancy was passionate about her faith, and later in life, made it her mission to share that joy she found as a disciple of Christ with everyone she came in contact with.  We can only imagine the missionary efforts she must be organizing, together with Pugga, at this very moment.

Mugga's greatest joy has always been spending time with her family. She never missed a sporting event or activity for her grandchildren or great-grandchildren. She had such a way of making people feel special and loved. She knew absolutely no stranger, and to know her was truly to love her!

Though the entirety of her life can in no way be described as a fairy tale, oh how magical this part of her love story is.  We were shocked to hear the news on Friday morning, but have realized we shouldn't have been so surprised.  If you knew Nancy and Gene, you knew that you could almost certainly find them together every moment the past couple of decades of their lives.  It warms our hearts to know their earthly separation was extremely short and exactly how they both would have wanted it.

Traditionally, one would include the phrase, "preceded in death" when disclosing the loved ones that have passed before her, however we feel it would be more suitable to say that Nancy is most likely chatting it up in the greatest catch up session of all time with her beloved parents Jack and Marge, her brother Pat McKissick, her precious great-granddaughter Blakelee, and the love of her life, Gene, right now, as we speak.  She is survived by her daughter, Kelli (Dwight) Aplanalp, granddaughters Megan (Dustin) Reno, Natalie (Brice) Anderson, Sierra (Bridger) Knowlton, and great-grandchildren Rhiannon, Cy, Brittain, Beckett, Eleanor, Cutler, and Jack, brother Mike (Jeanne) McKissick, sister Susan (Steve) Gurule, and sister Kay(Chris) Bird. She will be missed beyond words, but her love and her influence will be felt for eternity.

Graveside service will be held Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 11 a.m. at the Grace, Idaho cemetery.