Roger Lee Swigart

Roger Lee Swigart

February 26, 1942 - September 3, 2024

ALBANY, OR - Roger Lee Swigart, (82,) was born on February 26, 1942, in Bloomsburg, PA, to Russell and Arline (Keller) Swigart. Before his father died when he was 12, he passed on the importance of hard work and doing a thorough job. From his beloved mother he received the "Baton of Faith" as he called it, to love Jesus with his heart, soul, and mind, as well as the example of how to have fun with family and friends. Roger was always a well-liked "people person" and growing up enjoyed going to the family's hunting cabin, with his abundance of relatives including his younger sister, Pat.

In 1962, the family moved to Arizona, which held a lovely surprise-his future wife, Sue Scarbrough. He graduated as a schoolteacher from Arizona State University. Roger and Sue were happily married on January 15, 1965. They moved to Gilroy, CA, for his first teaching job where they met lifetime friends, Ron, and Rosie Kinoshita and where their three children were born: Randy, Shelly, and Tim. After five years teaching at Jordan Elementary, they moved their young family to Sweet Home, OR, where they remained for most of their marriage putting down deep roots in the community and church. Roger became a favorite schoolteacher at Foster Elementary and East Linn Christian Academy due to his ability to sprinkle in memorable and interesting stories, often strumming songs on his guitar, and dreaming up hands-on projects like collecting a million bottle caps to show what that number looked like. When Sweet Home Community Chapel started a Christian School, he was asked to direct it and answered the call for ten years.

Roger was an attentive family man, prioritizing family above everything except the Lord. Sue was the love of his life and earthly best friend, and their Christ-centered marriage served as a beautiful example of what marriage can be like as they selflessly cared and loved each other for almost 60 years. Marriage vows say, "in sickness and in health" and during the "in sickness" periods, Roger stayed upbeat and uncomplaining, always trusting the Lord, his Best Friend. We didn't hear him complain or say cross words. His children were raised in the Lord, being taught to follow and love God. When the nine grandchildren came along, Roger was in his element. He spent time in his woodshop making toy boxes for them or on the golf course patiently trying to teach them how to play golf. There were many happy camping trips with light-hearted drawing lessons and bonfires showing them the joys of s'mores, songs, and a good story. He would weave in life lessons and his faith seamlessly into anything and everything because that was the most important thing to him, but he also knew how to draw others out with his patient and gentle listening ear.

Roger passed away September 3, 2024, in Albany, OR, leaving a godly heritage and beautiful memories for his wife, Sue; his children, Shelly, and Tim, (Randy went home to be with the Lord in 1999,) together with their spouses; his nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Sweet Home Community Chapel, Sunday, September 15, 2024, at 3:00 PM.

His favorite verse was Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." 2 Timothy 4:7 is exactly how we see him: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." We can imagine the Lord saying to him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."