Monday, June 3, 2013

Our Warmest Condolences to Margaret and Dennis

Gene Swigert, Margaret's dad and prior Shorehill resident passed away on May 18th 2013.
What an amazing life!   Here is Gene's obituary.   He will certainly be missed by all his family and friends. His legacy will be remembered forever. 

Gene Swigert was born at Silverlake, Ore., on March 26, 1915. At six months old, his parents, Rose (Dunn) and Lester Swigert came to the Mossyrock Valley by wagon where the family settled.

As a young man, Gene worked in lumber camps, mills and on local farms. In 1938, he started as a Buckeroo on the Sherman Ranch in Eastern Oregon. In 1941, he took a steam ship to Kodiak Island to work in construction and then later in Fairbanks, Alaska.

From 1943-1946, he served in the Military, 4th Infantry. After discharge, he farmed, raised cattle, drove truck, and finished his working years selling real estate.

He met and married his wife, Marjorie Myhr in 1954; she was the love of his life. They had three children, Margaret, Dick and Bill. They lived in Rochester for the next 54 years. He moved to Centralia four years ago.
Gene loved to be outdoors. He rode horses, then had driving ponies and moved onto riding a big red ATV in later years. His greatest passion was fishing; making many trips to Canada to fish for trout, and spending many hours on the banks of the Chehalis River fishing for Steelhead. He always enjoyed visiting and telling stories.

Gene passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie; son, Dick; and two sisters, Vonda (Bun) Holt and Norma (Jo) Pearcy. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Dennis Goldsby; son, Bill; step-daughter, and her family, Rosalie and Steve Snyder, Dustin Olson and Taylor Snyder; numerous nieces and nephews; and many that he called friends.

Gene was a member of Robert Morris Masonic Lodge 97, in Silvercreek, Wash., since 1947.

Graveside services were held Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 11:30 a.m., at the Doss Cemetery, Mossyrock.

If desired, donations may be made to Robert Morris Lodge 97 Scholarship Fund, c/o Bruce Dunn, 213-A Birley Rd., Mossyrock, WA 98564.