Obituary: Swift, Earl
Mr.
Swift was born June 21, 1926 in Roseburg, OR to Harley and Agnes Swift.
The family moved to the farm in Lamont when he was an infant and he lived there the rest of his life.
This year, the farm has been in his family for 100 years.
Earl was a graduate of Lamont High School, class of 1944.
He farmed with his father until Harley’s passing in 1961.
He continued farming on his own and with his children until he died.
He married Glorian Gail (Gay) Sarchet from Lamont on November 25, 1948 at the Sprague Community Church.
Together they farmed and raised their seven children.
Earl came to know his Lord and Savior at a tent meeting in Oregon when he was 17.
He spent his life serving Jesus Christ as a deeply devoted family man, farmer and church leader.
While growing up, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was a scout leader as an adult.
Earl loved music and played the accordion and harmonica (at the same time) at Grange and Lamont events and sang in barbershop quartets in high school and in gospel quartets as an adult.
Earl (along with his family) intently served Lamont Community Church his whole life.
He was involved with a major remodel of the church building itself early on and served as board chairman many years, always with a passion for missionary outreach around the world.
He was currently chairman of the board for the Spokane County Jail Ministry as he had been for the past 17 years.
Lamont community was important to Earl; he was a member of the Lamont Grange, the Lamont Grain Growers, had served as Fire commissioner, and was a lineman for the local phone company in its beginning years.
Many years found him leading hunter safety classes and 4-H clubs.
Lifelong he befriended and mentored many in Christian leadership.
For fun Earl loved hunting and fishing and traveling to visit relatives, and got to spend many hours doing so with family and friends.
One of Earl’s most heartfelt joys was writing letters of encouragement and personal visits to those who were hurting, which impacted many lives.
He was a man deeply loved and respected by many, devoted to his Lord and his family, and will be greatly missed here on earth.
But we know Earl is presently celebrating with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in Heaven, and we rejoice with him!
Earl Arden Swift is survived by his children; Gail (Lonnie) Butcher of Kennewick, WA, June (Gary) Wollweber of Edwall, WA, Susan (Craig) Swanson of Lamont, WA, Roger (Sonny) Swift of Tum Tum, WA.
Chet (Ardis) Swift of Lamont, WA, and Dawn (Melvin) Bradley of Seattle, WA.
Sister; Irma (Harry) Davis of St. John, WA.
15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, many treasured in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years, Glorian (Gay) Swift, their son, Guy Swift, infant brother Roy, his sister, Donna Swannack, and son in law, Dan Hill.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lamont Community Church or Spokane County Jail Ministries in his memory.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 31, at the Cheney Funeral Chapel.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, at Maccabee Cemetery in Sprague followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. at Fourth Memorial Church in Spokane.
Online guest book at cheneyfuneral.com.
CHENEY FUNERAL CHAPEL, Cheney, WA.