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The Angels of Heaven are singing, the flowers bloom more brightly, birds surround her, especially hummingbirds, bluebirds and redbirds, our Daddy is there to meet her, and Momma is wrapped in the arms of Jesus.
Emma Jane Soward (Jane) was born March 28, 1931, in Anderson, Indiana, the first child, and only daughter, of Lyman and Harriet (Coulter) Carter, and passed to eternal life February 2, 2023.
Soon after her birth Momma moved with her parents to a country farm in Fairfield, Illinois. A baby brother was born and then twin brothers, sadly the twins passed from illness before six months old. Three more brothers would join the family before Momma graduated from school and moved into town to an upstairs apartment in an older couples' home where she was companion and caretaker to the wife.
Our Momma met Russell Soward and went roller skating with him by standing up another date. Their second date was at the county fair where they had their picture taken. Momma sent the picture to her Momma writing on the back, "This is going to be your Son-in-Law." Six months later, Momma and Daddy married the love of each other's lives becoming Mr. and Mrs. Russell Soward.
In 1950 a daughter Terry Jane was born. Nine months later Jane, Russell and Terry moved to Nebraska then Texas, and finally to Stroud, Oklahoma where Jane and Russell welcomed the birth of their son, Gary Russell. Stroud became home.
Momma and our family joined Stroud First Baptist Church. She raised us in a Christian home, and we attended Sunday School, Church, Bible School, Falls Creek and all the other activities from childhood through youth.
From a young girl Momma had a passion for sewing. She made beautiful clothes for Terry and herself, matching play clothes for Terry and Gary when they were young and once even a Leisure Suit for Daddy. Years later she made matching easter suits and play clothes for grandsons and darling nighties, blankets, play clothes and dresses for her granddaughter. Momma also loved gardening with flower beds and indoor plants. She filled feeders and had birdhouses, watching those and nests hoping to see the babies learn to fly. Momma took considerable pride in our home always making sure it was exactly right for us. She would often rearrange furniture and sometimes paint the rooms a new color. Daddy would laughingly say he never knew what he might walk into when he came from work. Momma was also a wonderful cook. Her young grandsons would say, "Gramma you sure are a good cooker." All the above were her most cherished hobbies if you include shopping and her "real thing" for shoes.
Momma felt such pride when she completed cosmetology training and passed the state exams. She owned and operated Janie's Beauty Shop in Stroud and opening day was the beginning of grand success with numerous returning clientele.
Momma and Daddy were married 53 years 8 months and 25 days. Her greatest sorrow was losing Daddy. They did love and life together rarely ever having been apart.
She had wonderful friends -- Mary Jo Hicks, Lavina Hinman, Pat Posky, Carlas Ward and Lorraine Cody a group that eventually got her to go with them on many shopping excursions. Momma took her first plane trip (a shocking accomplishment) with Lavina to Colorado to visit Lavina's sister gaining another wonderful friend.
Eldio Roddy knocked on Momma's door five years after she lost Daddy and invited her to dinner. Momma loved to travel and so did Eldio. They dated a year and made as many day trips as possible then married and the adventures began. Momma and Eldio were always going somewhere seeing so much of God's beauty and wonderful sights both on the west and east coast and areas in between. Sadly, Momma became a victim of cancer but was blessed as a survivor however a few years later she suffered an illness which required home health care and Eldio tenderly took care of her until he could no longer. Eldio passed away in October 2020 shortly after Momma moved to Chandler Living Center and then to Stroud Health Care.
Emma Jane Soward was preceded in death by her husband's Russell Soward and Eldio Roddy, her parents Lyman and Harriet, her brothers Frankie and Johnnie (twins), Lee, Ray and Chalen.
She is survived by her brother Eldon Carter and wife Anna Mae, daughter Terry Crofford, son Gary Soward and wife Jana, grandsons Chance Soward, Aaron Soward and wife Melinda and her granddaughter Rachel Crofford Thiel and husband Derrick. Also, her great grandchildren Chance's Alyssa and Ayden and Aaron and Melinda's twins Henry, Talulah, and Flynn.
Momma leaves behind many other family members, her church family, dear and special friends, the Stroud Health Care Staff and Caregivers who took care of her so well and everyone who will miss her and always remember her beautiful and loving spirit. Thank you for all the love you've shown our Momma through the years.
There is a great loving reunion in heaven. When you live to be just shy of your 92nd Birthday, you have lost more family, friends, and people, whose lives you have touched, than can be counted, and our Lord is hosting the party.
There is no way we can express or explain our loss. Momma, Gramma, Grammy You will forever be with us. We hold you in our hearts always, miss you so much and love you to the moon, the stars, beyond and back.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Jane Soward, to The First Baptist Church, 302 W 4th St., Stroud. OK or Stroud Health Care Center, 721 W. Olive, Stroud, OK.
Visitation: Parks Brothers Funeral Home, 504 N. 8th Ave. Stroud, OK, Thursday February 9, 2023, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Funeral Services: First Baptist Church, 302 W. 4th St. Stroud, OK, Friday February 10, 2023, 10:00 a.m. Burial: Stroud Cemetery
The Service will be livestreamed on Stroud First Baptist Church Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/firstbaptistchurchstroud?mibextid=LQQJ4d
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