Kathleen Marie Holdaway Swain

A funeral service for Kathleen Marie Holdaway Swain, 97, will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Plain Dealing Church of Christ, 501 E. Palmetto Ave., Plain Dealing, Louisiana. Burial will follow at Cotton Valley Cemetery in Cotton Valley, Louisiana. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Officiating the service will be Adam Miller and Steve Efferson.

Kathleen Marie Holdaway Swain was born on May 5, 1928, in Cuthand, Texas, to her parents, Elizabeth “Lizzy” and Rosco Holdaway. She passed away peacefully at the age of 97 on March 20, 2026, surrounded by her entire family. She lived a long and full life marked by independence, faith, and a deep love for her family.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her husband, W. A. “Bill” Swain, with whom she shared 35 years of marriage; three grandsons, John Bethea, Mason Barrington, and Charley Swain; and one great-grandson, Eli Efferson.

She is survived by her five children, Phyllis Barrington, Linda Bethea and her husband, Thomas, Billy Swain, Connie Miller and her husband, Tim, and Marilyn Grisham, who was preceded in death by her husband, Randy.

Kathleen was a proud grandmother to 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, all of whom brought her immense joy.

Known for her independence, humor, kindness, and lively spirit, Kathleen had a way of finding humor in life and often laughed loudest at herself. She remained active throughout her 97 years and especially loved spending time outdoors, tending to her flowers, and working in her yard, simple pleasures and sunshine that brought her great happiness. She left the world better than she found it.

Honoring Kathleen as pallbearers will be her great-grandsons, Caleb Miller, Josh Miller, Lance Efferson, Blake Efferson, Garrett Cowden, Bennett Jaroch, and Isaac Dayton.