Shirley A. Swiger
Shirley A. Swiger age 82 of Saranac went home to be with her Lord, after a short illness on May 1, 2008.
Shirley was born Shirley Avis Talcott august 31 1925 on a rural farm in Saranac , daughter of Gertrude and Keith Talcott. She was one of 6 children, two sisters Patricia(Talcott)Wyman who has preceded her in death and Dorthey Jean (Talcott) Knop and 3 brothers Charles (Bud) Talcott ,who preceded her in death , David Talcott, and William Talcott.
She grew up as a farm kid in the late 1920’s and 30’s , with a childhood packed full of stories and nostalgia that only growing up in the “Talcott Klan” could provide. She was a great story teller, who loved sharing those stories with a warm heart and great sense of humor. Boy did we love to hear those stories about the “Good Ole Days”. Even in her later years we were still learning what a remarkable lady she was.
Her teen years were filled with motorcylces , horses , taking care of her brothers and sisters, and of course boys.
She met her life partner of sixty years Richard (Dick) Swiger in the winter of 1943,and was married in a small service on May 26, 1945, After Dad’s tour in the Army and the end of the war, they started their life together in rural Clarksville running the Swiger family farm.
She lived the life of a hard working farm wife. During those years she was blessed with two little boys ( Tommy and Mike) who filled her days with laughter, and joy…..snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails. They enjoyed the wonders of a simple farm life as only those days could bring.
In 1957 they bought the old Patterson farm on Jackson Road in Saranac. Soon after they were blessed again with their third child, a daughter(Rebecca). Again she worked hard raising her children and helping run the farm. Her noon time farm meals are remembered by all who were lucky enough to grace her table
She shared her life with others, and anyone who knew her was better for it. She loved her children and grand children deeply and unconditionally, And in instilled in them the ability to love others. Her life was filled with compassion, and joy, she was always thinking of others and a way to help. If there was a problem Mom or Grandma could always fix it.
Mom would say her greatest accomplishment in life was coming to know Jesus Christ as her Savior, before her first heart surgery in 1972. There after she was an avid sharer of her faith with family, friends, and anyone who knew her. She joined Galilee Baptist Church family, and was a member until her death.
Mom, and Grandma… we thank-you mostly for sharing with us your love of Jesus, we are celebrating that your suffering is over and you are home with him now. Thank-you for the values that you have passed down to us, you made us what we are today.
May God grant us the wisdom to follow the road you laid down for us. Our arms are longing to hold you just one more time, but our hearts are filled with your memories. Thank-you for those precious memories.
~Your loving family
Preceded in death by her husband Richard Swiger, she is survived by her children Thomas , and Janet (Denman) Swiger, Michael and June(Andersen) Swiger, and Rebecca (Swiger) and Robert Strouse. Also 8 grandchildren Aaron Swiger, Adam Swiger, Kim (Swiger) Lee, Amber Swiger, Meagen(Strouse) Kruger, Autumn Swiger, Brian Swiger, and Kylie(Strouse) Reed. Great grandchildren Madison Lee, Laural Lee, Evan Lee, and Maycee Rebecca Reed. Survived also by her best friend and “buddy” Dianne Bushee.
Visitation will be at Lake Funeral Home in Saranac on Monday, May 5th at 6-8pm. Service will be held at Galilee Baptist Church on Tuesday May 6th at 1:00pm.