Richard Bernard Swift

Died March 1, 2006

KEWADIN - Richard Bernard Swift, 69, of Kewadin, died at home Wednesday, March 1, 2006, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born May 18, 1936, in Belding, to Francis Xavier and Martha Augusta (Jacoby) Swift.

In 1969, Richard moved to northern Michigan from the Holland area. Richard married Mary Kay Miller on Sept. 28, 1970, in Bellaire.

A steamfitter by trade, Richard retired from Local 85.

Richard loved his family and shared many of his hobbies with them. He enjoyed hunting deer and pheasant, and traveling out west to hunt antelope and deer. He also enjoyed fishing here and there, taking in pan fish in Canada and salt water fish in Texas. Richard's favorite boating lakes were Torch and Elk.

A sense of adventure found Richard traveling in his camper, taking in everything from Mackinaw to Texas and Banaff, British Columbia, just to name a few of his destinations over the years. Richard was an avid NASCAR fan, enjoying the sport on television.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Kay Swift of Kewadin; children, Richard Swift Jr. of Kewadin and Nancy (Jim) Eichorst of Granger, Ind.; grandchildren, Trisha (Kevin) Young of Central Lake, Richard III and Ben Swift of Kewadin, Cassie, Ryan and Connor Eichorst of Granger, Ind.; great-grandchildren, Lucas, Emily and Brooklyn; brothers, Frank (Janese) Swift of Holland and Robert (Bev) Swift of Walnut, Calif.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Brenda K. Swift.

A Service of Remembrance will be held Friday, March 3, 2006, at 3 p.m., at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Elk Rapids, where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. The Rev. David Mellor will officiate.

The family asks those wishing to give memorials to please remember Munson Hospice, 1105 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI 49684 or "Lunch for Life" Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation, PO Box 6635, Bloomingdale, IL 60108. Envelopes will be available at the service.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Elk Rapids Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.