Patsy Morris Swailes
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Patsy Yoshino Oshiro Morris Swailes, 94, of Dubuque, formerly of Belle Plaine and Tama, IA, died peacefully on November 9, at Bethany Home.
Patsy was born on January 5, 1931, in Wahiawa, Territory of Hawaii, the daughter of Chozun and Matsuru Oshiro. She attended local schools and graduated in 1949 from Leilehua High School in Wahiawa.
She attended Queens School of Nursing, graduating in 1953. After working one year at Queens, she joined the U.S. Army Nursing Corps as a registered nurse. She attained the rank of First Lieutenant before being discharged with honor.
Patsy met Benjamin P. Morris III, originally of Long Branch, New Jersey, at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Aurora, CO. In 1955, they married in Iowa City, Iowa. There, she worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Patsy and Ben later moved to Tama, where they continued to be avid Hawkeye fans. They raised six children in Tama and later moved to Belle Plaine. Sadly, Ben died in 1991 at the age of 60.
In 1996, Patsy married Harold J. Swailes of Belle Plaine. They had many happy years until his death in 2011.
Patsy leaves her six children Lisa (Neil) MacNaughton of Rosemount, MN; Benjamin Morris IV of Da Nang, Vietnam; Laurel Morris of Dubuque; Eric Morris of De Soto, WI; Goro (Mayra) Morris of Techac Puerto, Mexico; and Maria Morris of Dubuque. Also surviving Patsy are her stepsons John (Cheri) Swailes, Don (Cheryl) Swailes, and Tom (Nancy) Swailes. Her beloved grandchildren are Andrew (Dani) MacNaughton, Hannah MacNaughton, Benjamin (Olivia) Morris V, Madison Morris, Livia Schutz, Amelia Benham, and Race Benham; and step-grandchildren on the Swailes side – Mike, Bonnie, Amy, Jean, Mary, Patrick, Molly, and Amanda.
Patsy was the longest living of her siblings, Choko Oshiro, Robert Oshiro, Richard Oshiro, Dot Arita, and Phyllis Tanaka.
A memorial service and burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be given to Bethany Home in Dubuque for the loving care they gave Patsy in her final years.
Online condolences for Patsy’s family may be left at www.tristatecremationcenter.com
A memorial service and burial will take place at a later date.
Patsy and Ben were dear friends of my parents and when I was at home, we saw them all the time – group picnics, card parties, just dropping in. I remember Patsy bringing us real pineapples from Hawaii when they visited her family (before you could get them like you can now). They were a huge part of my childhood. I’m sending prayers to all Patsy’s family and want you to know she and Ben are very fondly remembered. May she rest in peace.
So very sorry to hear about Patsy. We have so many great memories of both Ben and Patsy.
Bud and Delores Shaw