Maralyn Elaine Swales
Born: March 30, 1931
Died: February 19, 2026 in Columbia, TN
Maralyn Elaine (Ashley) Swales, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2026 at LifeCare Center in Columbia TN, at the age of 94.
Born March 30, 1931, to William and Calista Ashley in Sublette Illinois, she lived in Mendota and graduated from Mendota High School. After college, she moved to Kansas City, where she worked for TWA airlines and met her husband William Swales. They married on April 23, 1955. After many moves around the country with his job, they returned to Mendota to raise their family. She worked for The National Bank and Floralcrest. But her life- long passion, was loving and caring for her family. Maralyn loved people well, and had a heart for people-and cats, who were lost or strayed from their path.
She is survived by her children, Kathy Josten (Ed) of Elkader, Iowa, and Lori Bergland (Don) of Columbia, Tennessee. Maralyn cherished her grandchildren Kyle Josten (Danielle), Caitlin Josten, Jessie Bergland, and Harley Bergland (Gabby) and was blessed by three great-grandchildren, Evelyn Josten and Leilani and Liam Bergland, as well as several nieces and nephews.
She was known for her deep love for her family, friends, and rescued cats. Maralyn had a keen sense of humor & radiated kindness, generosity, and compassion. She taught us the importance of loving fully, caring for one another and helping those in need. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, but her spirit & strength will keep our hearts filled.
She was preceded in death by her parents Calista Pearl (Hurlbet) Ashley and William Marshall Ashley, her two brothers Willis and Wayne Ashley and sister-in-laws Ernie and Carolyn Ashley, her beloved husband Bill Swales and infant daughter Paula.
Services will be held at Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia Tennessee, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Family will receive visitors from 3-5 PM, with a memorial service following at 5 PM. Honorary pallbearers are the LifeCare staff who loved and cared for her so well the last years of her life.
Burial will be in Mendota, Illinois this Spring. Memorials may be directed to Maury Regional Mobile Health 1224 Trotwood Avenue, Columbia, TN 38401, or your local Animal Shelter.
Published by News Tribune on Feb. 24, 2026.
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This obituary was published by Heritage Funeral Home & Cremation Services, LLC – Columbia.
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