Three candidates file for coroner
August 19, 2020
Gary Swearingen (R)
Skip White (I)
Rusty Dilbeck (D)
Sheila Harris
The names of three candidates for Barry County Coroner will appear on the November 3 ballot in the general election, according to the Barry County Clerk’s office.
Rusty Dilbeck, of Butterfield, was nominated by the Democratic Central Committee on August 10.
Dilbeck, 46, is a life-long resident of Barry County and a graduate of Wheaton High School. He has worked for the Butterfield and Cassville Fire Protection Districts for 23 years and is currently a team leader for Barry County E911 where he serves as a dispatcher.
“I became interested in the position of county coroner after working at both White’s and Fohn’s Funeral Homes at different times,” he said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Dilbeck and his wife, Staci, have three adult children.
Monday night, August 17, the Republican Central Committee nominated Gary Swearingen for the position of coroner.
Swearingen, 58, is a resident of Cassville and is currently serving as deputy coroner for Barry County. He worked for Jim Fohn for 12 years, prior to Fohn’s death on June 29. Since then, he has been serving as interim coroner.
“I’ve learned a lot from Jim,” Swearingen said, “and I hope to take over where he left off by serving the residents of Barry County.” Swearingen and his wife, Sara, have three adult children and four grandchildren.
Running for coroner on the Independent ticket is Skip White, director of White Funeral Home & Crematory.
In the past, White served as Barry County’s coroner for 16 years and has worked in the funeral profession most of his life.
White pursued college courses at Truman University in Kansas City, prior to enrolling in embalming school in Chicago. He is a graduate of the law enforcement academy in Joplin, and has participated in several death investigation clinics.
“I feel strongly that compassion is the most important requirement for a coroner,” White said. “It shouldn’t be a political position to serve the best interests of my funeral home.”
White and his wife, Kathy, of Cassville, have an adult daughter and five grandchildren.
The names of three candidates for Barry County Coroner will appear on the November 3 ballot in the general election, according to the Barry County Clerk’s office.
Rusty Dilbeck, of Butterfield, was nominated by the Democratic Central Committee on August 10.
Dilbeck, 46, is a life-long resident of Barry County and a graduate of Wheaton High School. He has worked for the Butterfield and Cassville Fire Protection Districts for 23 years and is currently a team leader for Barry County E911 where he serves as a dispatcher.
“I became interested in the position of county coroner after working at both White’s and Fohn’s Funeral Homes at different times,” he said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Dilbeck and his wife, Staci, have three adult children.
Monday night, August 17, the Republican Central Committee nominated Gary Swearingen for the position of coroner.
Swearingen, 58, is a resident of Cassville and is currently serving as deputy coroner for Barry County. He worked for Jim Fohn for 12 years, prior to Fohn’s death on June 29. Since then, he has been serving as interim coroner.
“I’ve learned a lot from Jim,” Swearingen said, “and I hope to take over where he left off by serving the residents of Barry County.” Swearingen and his wife, Sara, have three adult children and four grandchildren.
Running for coroner on the Independent ticket is Skip White, director of White Funeral Home & Crematory.
In the past, White served as Barry County’s coroner for 16 years and has worked in the funeral profession most of his life.
White pursued college courses at Truman University in Kansas City, prior to enrolling in embalming school in Chicago. He is a graduate of the law enforcement academy in Joplin, and has participated in several death investigation clinics.
“I feel strongly that compassion is the most important requirement for a coroner,” White said. “It shouldn’t be a political position to serve the best interests of my funeral home.”
White and his wife, Kathy, of Cassville, have an adult daughter and five grandchildren.
