Gwendolyn May (Peggy) Drennon

Gwendolyn May (Peggy) Drennon, age 94, of Ulysses, Kansas died Saturday, January 4, 2014 at The Legacy at Park View in Ulysses, Kansas. She was born May 16, 1919 in Trousdale, Kansas, the daughter of Glenn and May (Carter) Jarvis.

Peggy moved to the Carter family homestead in southeast Grant County with her parents in the spring of 1921, on land purchased from her maternal grandparents, J.J. & Flora Carter. Carters had bought the farm in 1911, moving to Grant County permanently in 1918, driving two covered wagons and a hay wagon with Percheron horses. Peggy’s brother, Joe, was born after the move to Grant County. She attended School District #3 and Grant County Rural High School, graduating in 1936. Peg married Keith S. Schwein on March 25, 1937 in Ulysses, a day later than planned due to a “black duster” the day before.

Keith and Peg bought the homestead from the Jarvises in 1951, having previously lived on Willow Nook Ranch in Elizabeth, Colorado for three years. They grew wheat and milo, had livestock, and always a large garden. Their three children, David, Gene and Robinette (Graber) grew up here, later going into farming with their parents. Peg referred to the homestead on the hill as “Schweinville” and was her favorite place on earth. She and Keith lived in the home built by her parents in 1929. The homestead still remains in the family 103 years after Peg’s family first came to Grant County.

Keith passed away in 1975, and Peg married Luther Drennon on July 21, 1979. Later they purchased her parents’ home in Ulysses and moved to town. During this time, she became a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Luther passed away in 1996. Peggy was a resident of Western Prairie Care Home and The Legacy at Park View for the past six years.

Peggy and her family have always been involved in the Grant County Community. Her grandfather, J.J. Carter, was commissioner in 1921 when the name of “New Ulysses” was voted by the citizens to become “Ulysses”, and later when the Grant County Courthouse was built. Peg’s father and son also were Grant County Commissioners at one time. Peg served on the Methodist Church Board, taught Sunday School and was a longtime Chancel Choir member. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother and 4-H leader for many years. Peg was one of the first Gray Lady Red Cross volunteers at Western Prairie Care Home. She was a 76-year member of Grant County Extension, having served as a board member. She was a 63-year member of Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Matron and was a member of the Past-Matrons Club. In 2001, Peggy was honored as Grant County Pioneer of the Year.

Peggy loved her Lord and her church. She loved her family and big family gatherings. She was a vocalist, an artist, an excellent cook, the perfect farmwife and grandmother. She was an avid gardener, both flower and vegetables, and could identify all local wildflowers. Peg had wonderful stories about growing up with Ulysses. She was quite a character with a wonderful laugh and beautiful smile.

She is survived by one son, Gene Schwein and wife Lynn; daughter, Robinette and husband David Graber; daughter-in-law, RueNell Ford; brother-in-law, Ed Lewis, all of Ulysses. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Melissa DuPree of Hutchinson, Melanie Barton of Atlanta, Georgia, Eric Schwein of Wamego, Kansas, Shawn Schwein of Ulysses, Kansas, Brooke Grigg of McCook, Nebraska, and Cody Graber of Ulysses, Kansas; 16 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents and brother; first husband, Keith; second husband, Luther; and two sons, Galen Kent Schwein and David Keith Schwein.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ulysses, Kansas with Father Dale Lumley officiating. Interment will follow at the Ulysses Cemetery in Ulysses, Kansas. Friends may call from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be given to the St. John’s Episcopal Church or Historic Adobe Museum, both in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880.