James Keith Swofford was born February 10, 1968 in Harrisonville, Missouri and departed this life, unexpectedly, on April 19, 2019 at North Kansas City Hospital, North Kansas City, Missouri, at the age of 51 years, 2 months and 9 days.
He was the son of Ronald Martin Swofford and Kathryn (Hooper) Swofford.
Although he tried his hand at baseball and football, Jim realized sports were not his thing. He was an accomplished pianist and excelled in vocal music. He found his home singing in the Pleasant Hill school choirs, with his favorite being the competitive show choir, Hillside Singers. He graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in 1986. Jim attended Central Missouri State University on a music scholarship. In 1992, he received his degree in Vocal Music Education. He touched the lives of countless students sharing his beautiful baritone voice and passion for choral music. His first teaching job was in Cole Camp. He moved to Huntsville and taught at Moberly High School. After leaving Moberly, Jim received a Master of Music Education degree from Northwest Missouri State University where he was a graduate assistant in the choral music department. His next job was at St. Joseph Central High School. In 2001, he began working in the North Kansas City School District where he was the choir director at Winnetonka High School, and Maple Park Middle School. Jim spent the last several years of his teaching career at Oakwood Manor Elementary School which he loved.
Jim loved the Lord and loved leading choirs and planning worship in many faith communities. He was a church music director at Laura Street Baptist Church in Maryville, Englewood Baptist Church, Gracemor Christian Church, and Northcross United Methodist Church, all in Kansas City.
Jim had a crazy sense of humor and his huge belly laugh was contagious. Building relationships and encouraging people was one of his greatest strengths. His social calendar was always full and he loved hanging out with his family and friends. His circle of friends was vast and to be a friend of Jim’s meant you were a friend for life. He was a champion for his students, his friends, his family, and most of all, his son, James, whom he adored more than anything.
Jim was preceded in death by one brother, Robbie Swofford.
He is survived by his son, James Read Swofford of Kansas City, Missouri; his father, Ronald Martin Swofford of Fayetteville, Arkansas; his mother, Kathryn (Hooper) Fleener of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; two brothers, Chris Swofford and wife Kristine of Raymore, Missouri and Andrew Swofford of Missouri; five sisters, Rhonda Jackson and husband David, Angela Lees and husband Scott, all of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Crystal Fleener of Harrisonville, Missouri, Debra Elkins and husband Ryan of Gravette, Arkansas, and Jennifer Swofford of Green Forest, Arkansas; step-brothers, step-sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends.
As Jim wished, cremation has been accorded. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 26, 2019 at the Wallace Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill, Missouri with Pastor Rob Carr officiating. Inurnment will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The family of James Keith Swofford will receive friends from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made by cash or check to the NKC Schools Education Foundation (in memory of Jim Swofford in the memo line) and mailed to 2000 NE 46th Street, Kansas City, MO 64116. To give online, visit www.nkcschoolsfoundation.org/support/online-donation. After entering your information, indicate that you want to customize the donation in memory of Jim.
22 Messages
Jim was a great music teacher. He taught both of my granddaughters at Oakwood Manor. He will be greatly missed! My condolences to Jim’s family.
So lucky to have called him friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Erin, Andy, and Drew Passmonick
I am sorry for your loss of him. I was one of his students during MaplePark I always looked forward to his choir classes as he made it a fun experience and I will never for get it as well as that class gave me a best freind of now 17+years after he had a partner assignment.
He was my music teacher when i went to winnetonka he always knew how to make the students laugh he was a wonderful man im going to miss him
I will never forget my favorite choir class. I loved our field trips and choir concerts so much. It definitely was my favorite class. Mr. Swofford was always smiling and kind even when we were the worst little smart mouthed 8th graders. He gave me confidence to sing out in my soprano section with his happy and excited face he said ” Yes Keti! Good job lead them!” and made me feel like I was a super star! I think about that often moment often as I think it made an impact in my self image. I will forever remember my favorite choir teacher and friend. Mr. Swofford. I am glad that I went back to visit him even after I left middle school. That choir class will forever be remembered and talked about because we had a great teacher that was also our friend. Love you Mr. Swofford thank you for your smiles even when we made it hard. You’ll always be in my thoughts. RIP
I express my heartfelt condolences for the loss of your dear love one. May God of tender mercies and comfort strengthen you during this time of sorrow – 2 Corinthians 1:3,4, it is his promise that you will see your love one again, John 5:28, 29.
My condolences and prayers of comfort to the family. Jim was so kind to me growing up as kids in P.Hill. I love you Jim. You are completely healed now and with the Lord.
I didn’t know Jim for a long period of time, but in that span, I was always overjoyed when I got to visit and share with him. He has such a contagious laugh and humor that spread to everyone around him. I’m so very grateful that I was able to receive some of his light that shone through him.
Leave a Condolence