Gary L. Swartout's Obituary
Gary Lee Swartout, 84, of Clearwater, Florida passed away in Charleston, West Virginia Monday August 7, 2023. Born March 9, 1939 to James John and Merle Eismon Swartout of Brimfield, Ohio.
Gary is survived by his wife Katherine, of Clearwater, FL, two sons Gregory Lee Swartwout of Carrboro, NC, James Milo (Kristy) Swartwout of Gulfport, FL, grandson Alexander of North Hollywood, CA and granddaughter Sara of Miami, FL. As well sisters Janice Breckenridge of Ravenna, OH; Brenda (Bob) Wiard of Conyngham, PA; Debbie (Kevin Pieper) Cogelia of Phillipsburg, NJ; brother in laws Richard Bailey of Meadvile, PA; Donald (Carol) Bailey of Espyville, PA; 14 nieces and nephews.
Gary is also survived by his lifelong friends; Jim Hurd of Silver Lake, OH and Walter Bankes of Victor, NY, his longtime friend and golfing partner, Michael Frank of Pipestem, WV, as well as Hugo and Elia Salazar who became family to him during his time in Tucson, AZ.
Gary graduated in the class of 1957 from Stow High and then from Kent State University with a bachelor’s in Business Administration. Gary worked in the steel/metal purchase and sales while living in Cuyahoga Heights, OH. He worked for the Hammond Tube Company as an inside and outside sales rep and as the Manager of the warehouse. He was also on The Board of Directors.
While his sons were in college Gary and Kathy started 2 businesses: Swartout Sales Inc, a sales rep company and Frisia, Inc, an import company.
Gary loved old cars and trucks; after finding a 1939 Ford.(his first car had been one) he had it chopped and channeled later donating it to the Cuyahoga Heights Fire Department for their charity drive. Due to health issues Gary and Kathy moved to a small community by the National Park of the Sonora Desert. He found a 1951 pickup truck that he restored and then donated to the Picture Rock Fire Department.
Gary helped many people during his life and as his health caused a lot of pain he still loved to watch his sons and grandkids grow into kind and honorable adults.
He loved playing golf, baseball, football; and watched all kinds of sports on the television.
He was a member of both the First Christian Church of Stow, OH and the Broadway Christian Church in Cleveland, OH where he was an elder and youth Sunday School Teacher.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, brother Don, sister-in-law Elva Swartout of Stow, OH, brother-in-law Dan Breckenridge of Kent, OH, brother-in-law Wayne Bailey of Conneautville, PA.
In lieu of flowers Gary wished for donations to go to either the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (www.desertmuseum.org) or The Nature Conservancy in Ohio (www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/ohio/)
The family will keep everyone informed of plans for a service at Restland Cemetery in Brimfield, Ohio once plans are finalized.
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