The Rev. J. Ray Swearingen
Obituary
The Rev. J. Ray Swearingen, 79, died on Wednesday (Aug. 3,
2011) at Newton Medical Center.
He was born on Oct. 2, 1931, in Coffeyville to Claude
Raymond and Zelma Nancy (Hattan) Swearingen. On Aug. 3, 1958, he married JoAnn
Krizan at First Christian Church in Oswego, and she survives of the home.
Ray graduated from Field McKindley High School in
Coffeyville in 1949 and Coffeyville Community College in 1951. He joined the
United States Airforce and was stationed in Washington, D.C., and in the
security division for four years. He completed his bachelor of science in
business administration at Kansas State University in January 1958.
Ray was a district scout executive for the Boy Scouts of
America in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, for six and a half years. He earned his Eagle
Scout award as a teenager.
Ray was the business manager and director of the school
lunch, custodial and bus transportation program for the Charles City school
system in Iowa for six years. He also worked as a hospital business manager,
EMT and director of ambulance services in Hampton, Iowa. He was a member of the
U.S. Army medical reserve corp.
Ray became a United Methodist pastor after completing the
five-year course at Garret Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill. He served as
a pastor for 33 years. He organized police and hospital chaplaincy programs in
Independence. He was a member of the International Order of Police Chaplaincy.
He also worked in prison ministry at the Labette County Correctional
Conservation Camp while serving the Oswego Church.
Ray was pastor at Eastside United Methodist Church in Newton
for eight years prior to retiring in 2006. He then became affiliated with the
Halstead United Methodist Church. He enjoyed model railroading and building
radio-controlled airplanes. He was a member of the Newton RAC organization.
Ray is survived by his wife, JoAnn of the home; daughters,
Janet and Ray Banowetz of Edna, and Theresa Lovell of Independence, Mo.; sons,
Ryamond John Swearingen of Snohomish, Wash., and Steven and Yamileth Swearingen
of Monroe, Wash.; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.
Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Petersen
Funeral Home in Newton.
Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Halstead
United Methodist Church. The Rev. Jane Voelkel will preside. Burial will be in
Restlawn Gardens of Memory in Newton.
Memorials may be left with Halstead United Methodist Church,
in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
