Arthur Leonard "Red" Swanson Jr.

1936 - 2024

Arthur Leonard 'Red" Swanson, Jr., our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 19, 2024. He was 87 years old. Red was born October 15, 1936 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He and his sister Billie Sue Sizemore grew up in Baton Rouge and Monroe, Louisiana. He attended Neville High School in Monroe, Louisiana; and graduated from LSU. He met the love of his life, Mary "Tot" Stafford Swanson while attending LSU. They have been married for over 67 years and have shared a lifetime enjoying every moment of life together. He played professional baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was a scout for the Philadelphia Phillies. Following his baseball career, he was the LSU Freshman baseball pitching coach and Intramural Director, then a Petroleum Landman. Art loved spending time with his family, sailing, attending all LSU sports, as well as spending time on the beach. Tailgating for the LSU football games was one of his passions. He shared this love of sports with his family and friends. He is the father of Laurie Swanson Taylor, Linda Swanson Brown, and Arthur Richard "Eric" Swanson and daughter-in-law Jo Dishman Swanson. He is the proud PawPaw of Ashley Brown Garrison (Drew Garrison), Jonathan Stafford Taylor (Kristin Taylor), Brittney Brown Cappiello (Blake Cappiello), Samantha Swanson Rector (Justin Rector), Daniel Arthur Brown (Katie Brown), Mary Morgan Swanson McKnight (Jeff McKnight), Christopher Swanson Taylor (Onise Taylor), and Dorothy Swanson Womack (Kendon Womack). He is also blessed with his great-grandchildren, Andrew, Mary, and William Rector; Lila Garrison; Cooper and Rosie Cappiello; Maxwell and Shep McKnight; Beckett Womack; Amelia Taylor and Nathan Selles; and Christian Brown. He also has many loving nieces and nephews. Art is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Leonard Swanson, Sr. (Big Red) and Billie Hightower Swanson (MawMaw), and his brother-in-law Coy Udeen Sizemore. For his beautiful memory, love of baseball and sharing his songs from his childhood, his love of life, his faith and family, he will fondly be remembered. His memorial service will be held at University United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 27, 2024. Visitation will take place from 11:00 am – 12:00, with the memorial service at noon. The family asks for no flowers, suggesting donations be made to The American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.