Eva Ross Swift

Eva Ross Swift, 78, of Benton, KY, passed away on Sunday, Oct 12th, surrounded by family and her best friend.

Born Nov 10th 1946 in Monkey Den in Marshall County, Ky, Eva was the eldest child of the late William Thomas Ross and the late Irene Burd Bourland. The daughter of a naval officer, Eva lived in several different places in her early childhood including Germany. Her parents divorced when she was only 12 years old and she spent the next several years taking care of her two younger sisters and three first cousins who all lived in a very small house in Monkey Den. This was the beginning of Eva's life of servanthood.

Eva married her husband of 60 years, Hugh Wayne "Duck" Swift in 1965 and moved to part of the Swift farm on the Kirksey Highway in Marshall County where she would live 56 years until her health declined. When Eva married Duck, she married his family. Duck's mom was not in good health and Eva began her marriage mowing their yard, washing and mending their clothes, cleaning their house and taking care of them until their death

Eva's greatest joy was her Lord and her family. She adored her children and spend her life teaching them about God through actions. She took her children to church and helped teach Bible classes, and even led her husband to Christ in 1984.

Those that knew Eva best, knew she was like a Martha Stewart. She loved to garden and could cook the best of everything without a recipe. Eva used her love for cooking to serve over 20 years in the Marshall County School system as a cook for South Marshall
Elementary.

Growing up poor, she didn't waste anything. Leftovers became vegetable soup or potato patties. Scraps of material left over from sewing Darlene's dresses were made into matching outfits for baby dolls and barbies. Eva's family ate regularly from her garden, the family potato patch and ate fresh eggs and meat from the family farm and fresh fruit from the orchard. Eva loved to host family dinners in their house and was always one to visit the sick, mourn with those who were mourning and feed those that were hungry. When her dear son Jeff was killed in a motorcycle wreck in 1984, Eva was devastated and broken.

It was not until her grandchildren came along that you could once again see a joy in her eyes. She loved baking cookies, playing board games and just spending time with them and her daughter Darlene. Eva was a baptized believer of the Church of Christ and grew up in the Union Hill congregation. Shortly after her son's death, she began attending the Union Grove Church of Christ with her husband and daughter. Eva could be seen daily reading and studying her bible and she lived each day to please God. If there was one word to describe Eva it would be that of a servant. After many years of suffering from Alzheimer’s, she has finally been made whole and will spend eternity with her Lord and Savior.

Eva was preceded in death by her mother, Irene Burd Bourland, her father William Thomas Ross, her sister Lisa Ross Coursey McIntyre, sister Kim Bourland Myers and her son Jeff Thomas Swift. 



Eva is survived by her husband, Wayne "Duck'' Swift, her daughter Darlene (Chris) Swift Harvey, her sister Trish Ross Turner, brother Lee Bourland-all of Benton. Her grandsons Houston Harvey (fiancé Evie) of Benton and Hunter Harvey (fiancé Allie) of London, Ky. She has a great grandson Benton Harvey of London, KY.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like you to attend the funeral for a singing and worship service on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 1 pm at Collier Funeral Home, 211 West 5th Street, Benton, KY 42025, Don McBrayer and Johnny Parker will be officiating with Josh Herndon leading singing. It would bring Eva great joy to know you came to worship Jesus in remembrance. Please come help us sing praises to God.

Burial will follow in Mt Carmel Cemetery in Calloway County, KY.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at Collier Funeral Home between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 16, 2025.