Rachel Louise Swartz, 81 of Albany departed this life on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Rachel was born December 13, 1927 in Gentry County, Missouri. She was the eldest of seven children born to Charles James and Inez Bell (Culp) Gardner. On February 5, 1948 Rachel was united in marriage to Garland Swartz. To this union, three children were born. Garland preceded her in death June 16, 2005. Rachel was a homemaker and previously worked at the Albany Regional Center for 20 years before retiring. She was a member of the Albany First Baptist Church. Besides her husband, Rachel was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Alice Rice and Norma Severe. Survivors: Her Children, Judy (Ron) Frey, Longview, TX; Ralph (Cherry) Swartz, Union Star, MO; Don (Debbie) Swartz, Omaha, NE; Sister, Anna Hughes, Albany; Brothers, Delbert Gardner, Travelers Rest, South Carolina; Charles Gardner, Albany; Lawrence Gardner, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 7 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.