Sondra D. Swinford

The World’s Most Interesting Woman passed today. She was 72 going on 12. Born in San Luis Obispio, CA, she was raised in countries across the world and graduated high school from Roosevelt High in Honolulu, HI. Speaking 7 languages, she was most fluent in the language of unconditional love. She was a student of life and love and shared all with anyone she met.

Throughout her life, Sondra Swinford owned boats, restaurants, a Laundromat and a marine testing business. For 50 years she worked in law but her passion was her horses, animals, and her people. To support her family, at one time she worked a paper route 7 days a week, a law firm 5 days, and at 7-11 on the weekends. She said 7-11 was the most fun because she got to meet so many people. A voracious reader, she could talk politicians or poets, history or philosophy. She could also talk vampires and religion in the same conversation. No subject was beyond her curiosity and research skills.

A very talented woman, Sondra could mend a fence, sew award winning costumes, and rig Ballyhoo with the best. She was an author, an artist, a designer, an eclectic culinary enthusiast, and an etiquette consultant (even if she preferred wearing muck boots, jeans, and a hat). Though she didn’t brag and didn’t mention it much, she was very proud of being the first woman pilot accepted into an all male Pilot’s Club in Virginia in the 1960s. Her children were most proud of her when for a few months she was a fugitive from her husband after kidnapping her kids.

Sondra had a few philosophies on life. She felt that a woman without a man was like a Zebra without a bicycle. She felt that a balanced diet was a cookie in each hand and that a clean house was a sign of a life mis-spent (or company was coming). She felt that chocolate cake was an acceptable meal at any time of day or night. She also felt that it was necessary to lock up the brakes and cross 3 lanes of traffic when the Krispy Kreme ”HOT” Light was on. She scared her passengers on many occasions.

The most interesting and amazing thing about Sondra was her inexhaustible love for those around her. She collected stray dogs, cats, people and pigs. She was a Pied Piper of for animals, children, and children at heart. She touched so many lives with her generous heart and trips to the auction. Penguins loved her.

Costco and The Tractor Supply Store have taken a financial hit today. Emotionally, the world weeps. She has left her impression on a host of characters who will feel her loss: Cowboys, Bikers, musicians, racetrackers, Sea World trainers, truck drivers, mechanics, photographers, MMA Fighters, veterinarians, lawyers, the rich and the poor. She influenced so many people and touched their lives for the better. She is survived by her biological children Dee, Thea, and Kika; her best friend Bob Ashe, Roberto, Sean, and her “extra” kids: Stacey, Amanda, Patricia, Steve, Mike, Denise and countless others.

She will be missed.


Sunday, November 8 at 1:00pm
2449 Peters Road, Ft. Pierce FL 34945

CELEBRATION OF LIFE - SONDRA - THE WORLD'S MOST INTERESTING WOMAN!

To Celebrate our Mom, Sondra's, life, we will be having one of her well-loved yard parties.

As always, BYOB, bring a dish, a chair, an instrument... and Mom stories!

We will be sure to make some of Mom's cheese & crackers and hot-n-spicy sliders as well.

As the new property is so tiny (the neighbor is generously allowing us to spread out into his yard), you will want to drop of your stuff and park either in the rear of the Cracker Barrel parking lot (roughly 500 feet west of the house) or the "defunct mall" just slightly further west.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you either contribute towards Sondra's Horse Fund or the Treasure Coast Hospice (who were so wonderful!)

Her dogs, cats and 1 horse were taken in by family or friends, but Thunder and Indy will be going with Thea. A little help towards their upkeep and vet bills would be appreciated, but PLEASE don't feel obligated to contribute!

If you have any questions, you can reach out to Dee (561-308-6159), Thea or Kika.

Thank you for loving our Mom so much and for making her life so rich. We are forever grateful.