ANITA ALEEN ALLARD , passed away peacefully on October 13, 2024 in Wichita, Kansas. She was born on September 25, 1951 in Wichita, Kansas as the second of three children to Ercell and Alice Swain. Anita lived the majority of her adult years in Andover, Kansas.

Anita is preceded in death by her parents, Ercell and Alice Swain; husband, Jerry Allard; son, Garrett Leslie Allard; and niece, Emily Swain. Survivors include her brother, Woody Swain (Barb); sister, Kathryn Scott (Rob); and many nieces, nephews, an aunt, cousins and dear friends.

Anita graduated from East High School in Wichita in 1969, where she was active in school activities. She then attended Kansas State University, where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in 1973. Following graduation from K-State, Anita was asked to be a Resident Leadership Development Consultant for a new Pi Beta Phi sorority chapter at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, where she would earn her Master's Degrees in Special Education and in Spanish. She went on to be a special education teacher in Salina, Kanapolis, and Wichita. After teaching special education for 14 years, she was an elementary school principal for 20 years, serving at Stanley Elementary for 16 years, and Beech Elementary for 4 years. She loved her teachers, staff and students. Anita retired from USD 259 in 2008.

In 2009, back surgery left Anita a paraplegic. In the years that followed, she faced many hardships, but she always kept a positive attitude and handled each obstacle with grace. Anita didn't let her paralysis stop her from doing what she loved, including getting together with friends to play bridge, or meeting them for coffee or lunch to visit, or volunteering at the Assistance League Thrift Shop, Gingerbread Village, and Rainbow Girls.

Anita joined the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (Hope Assembly) when she was 14, and in 1972 she was the Grand Worthy Advisor for the State of Kansas as well as Supreme Deputy from 2010 to 2020.

Anita was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Wichita, and a loyal K-State supporter.

The family would like to thank Good Shephard Hospice and the staff at LakePoint of Wichita for their loving care and support.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 21, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m., both at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1356 N Broadway St, Wichita. Anita will be buried with her husband Jerry and son Garrett in Bruno Township Cemetery in Andover following the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with the Assistance League of Wichita, P.O. Box 8072, Wichita, KS 67208; the Rainbow Girls Scholarship Program, c/o Kansas Grand Assembly, 4126 N. Stone Barn St., Maize, KS 67101; and with Good Shepherd Hospice, 7829 E. Rockhill St., Suite 403, Wichita, KS 67206.