George Dudley Swann

George Dudley Swann, age 80 of Little Rock Arl/, died on January 6, 2011 at home surrounded by loved ones. Dudley was born in Mineola, Texas on July 20, 1930 to Grace Baldwin and Dudley Douglas Swann. He was the first of five children. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joe Ann McBroom Swann. Dudley was a good business man who grew up working in the basket manufacturing business in East Texas and Nashville, Ark. He owned and operated Little Rock Crate and Basket Company, which he purchased in the mid-60's with the help of friends, and Nashville Crate Company which he and his brother, Henry purchased in 1970 and operated until closing in 2002. The company in Little Rock manufactures wooden wirebound fruit and vegetable containers such as bushel baskets. The company has been in continuous operation since 1916 and one of the few remaining basket manufacturers in the United States. The company remains a family owned business in Little Rock, Arl. Dudley was a life- long outdoorsman, but especially loved turkey hunting at "The Land", property he owned in Faulkner County. His favorite saying there was "spring and summer are for the women and children; fall and winter is for the men and boys." There they enjoyed large family and friend gatherings. Summers were spent at "The Land" running their peach orchard, Point 0 Ridge, one of his many projects he designed to keep his family together enjoying good times and grandchildren. The door was always open to friends and family who gathered most weekends for "wine down" times, jeep and ATV rides, fishing and hunting and watching the grandchildren perform their birthday performances for the family. Almost all family members had summer birthdays. Dudley was also an active member and served as President of Lakeside County Club during the 60's and 70's. He was a lifelong Baptist and a member of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church. In addition to his wife Joe Ann, Dudley is survived by a daughter, Stephanie Swann-Mendez of Little Rock, son George Dudley, Jr. and wife Kathy, son William Douglas and wife Lisa, seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Betty Harris of Kansas City, and Mary Ann Scott of the Grand Cayman Islands. He also leaves numerous cousins, friends, and loyal employees. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Henry Swann of Nashville, Ark., and his sister Patsy Harrell of Greenbrier, Ark. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday at Ruebel Funeral Home and services on Monday, January 10 at 2 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in Dudley's honor to the American Heart Association, Arkansas Children's Hospital, or a favorite charity. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.