1,500 share grief over one murder

Mourners remember the sunny personality of a woman fatally beaten at her business.

By LEANORA MINAI

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 16, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Elizabeth Swanson will be remembered for her bubbly personality, a love of life and the way she signed every card: "Sunshine and Smiles."

About 1,500 people filled Pasadena Community Church on Tuesday night to celebrate her 38 years of life and say goodbye nearly a week after her murder.

"We can cherish the memories," the Rev. Cliff Melvin told the congregation. "Memories of the hardware store, the engagement ring, trips out West, babies born, open parties, decorations galore."

The 70 floral arrangements -- the bulk in yellow, her favorite color -- stood as a testament to her being a friend to many in the community.

Fellow business owners, friends from near and far, and her graduating class of 1979 at Boca Ciega High School were among those sending sympathy bouquets.

"If you didn't know my sister, you really missed out on something," said Mrs. Swanson's brother, Jim Myers Jr., 41. "Just look around you."

In broad daylight Friday, Mrs. Swanson was beaten on the head and upper body and left to die inside the dry cleaners she and her husband, Peter Swanson, own in Coquina Key Plaza in St. Petersburg.

A customer found her in a back room of Palms Cleaners and Laundromat about 4 p.m. She died 2 1/2 hours later at Bayfront Medical Center.

Although five customers were washing clothes in the laundry portion of the business, separated by a wall and sliding door, patrons told police they heard nothing.

"There's some cases that shake the whole community really bad, including the officers, and this is one of them," St. Petersburg police Lt. Bill Sohl said Tuesday.

Homicide Sgt. Mike Puetz said Tuesday that there are no new developments in the case.

Detectives are following potential leads, he said, and composite sketches are being prepared of some people seen around the shopping center the day of the killing.

"We don't have anything that anybody's identified as somebody they saw coming out of the business," Puetz said.

Tuesday's memorial opened with a song from a Pokemon soundtrack. Mrs. Swanson and Peyton, the Swansons' 9-year-old son, would sing the melody.

"Spread your wings and fly," the lyrics say. "You can do it if you really try."

The pastor, a customer at Palms Cleaners, recalled Mrs. Swanson's spirited nature.

"I was always amazed," Melvin said. "Every time I went in there. It was hot, sweaty work, and they were just laughing and having fun."

He said Mrs. Swanson, who lived in Yacht Club Estates in west St. Petersburg, would not want her family and friends to be somber.

"She would want us to focus on sunshine and smiles, and smile through pain," Melvin said.

Her father, James Myers, 67, wrote "A Poem To My Daughter, Beth" for the memorial. In it, he says that smiles and laughter are not the same.

"Yes," Myers wrote. "Some of the joy has gone out of our lives. But while you were with us, Beth, how great it was."

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