Bertha Lamon Swatzell passed away on Sunday, November 3, 2013, at Crestwood Hospital in Huntsville. Visitation will be Thursday from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home in Decatur, with services in the Roselawn Chapel at 2:30 p.m. Bertha was born September 14, 1927, in Decatur to Simmie H. and Fannie W. Lamon. She met her husband, Tom Swatzell, while she was head Drum Majorette in the Decatur High School Band. For many years they made their home in Decatur, and then Huntsville, where Bertha founded and ran several successful businesses, including the Doctor’s Exchange answering service, assisted Tom with his music schools, and eventually worked as a communications specialist for IBM Space Systems Center, managing systems for the large complex, including responsibility for launch communications between Huntsville, Cape Canaveral and Houston during all Apollo Saturn launches. In the 1980’s the Swatzells moved to Austin, Texas, and Bertha began promoting and managing Tom’s performance career as “Master of the Dobro.” She created prize winning fan club booths and newsletters, garnering accolades over some famous country music stars at Country Music’s Fan Fair in Nashville. For her contributions to the music business, she was inducted into America’s Country Music Hall of Fame, along with her husband. She moved back to Huntsville in 2005. Those who knew Bertha remember her as dedicated and focused with an indomitable spirit. Bertha was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, and also proud parent of her most recent puppy, Dobie. Bertha was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Thomas “Tom” Swatzell Jr., and her son, Charles Thomas “Tommy” Swatzell III of Austin Texas; father, Simmie Lamon; mother, Fannie Lamon; brothers, Elbert, Reese and Earl Lamon, all of Decatur; brother, Omar Lamon of Columbus, Ohio; and sisters, Eva Lamon and Eula “Billie” Miller of Huntsville. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Nell Eidson of Glenview, Illinois; grandson, William Charles (Kelly) Eidson and great-grandsons, Charles William Eidson and Andrew Kenneth Eidson, all of Arlington Heights, Illinois.
A fund in memory of Tom and Bertha will be established for the purpose of advancing and preserving America’s Musical Heritage. Contact Mary Eidson, P.O. Box 2247, Glenview, IL 60025 for more information.
