Friday the 7th of March 2014, Charles Haynes Swift died at the Crown Point Health Suites in Lubbock, Texas. Charles was born to Herman Haynes and Mary Beasley Swift in Odessa, Ector County, Texas on Sunday the 29th of Sept. in 1940. When Charles was two months old the Swift family moved to Freeport, Texas where his dad accepted a job with the fledgling Dow Chemical Texas Division. As a boy Charles was active in the Boy Scouts of America earning the rank of Eagle Scout simultaneously with one of his best friends, Mike Barnard. He made many trips with the scouting organization. One such trip took him and a handful of cohorts, including his dad, all the way to England. He was often on the staff at Camp Karankawa in West Columbia, Texas and served in leadership roles in many other areas of scouting into adulthood. He was an excellent swimmer, marksman, bowman, naturalist, outdoorsman, leader and young citizen. After high school Charles went to A&M College of Texas in College Station. He joined the corps, but quickly determined that the hours required were a bit earlier than he had considered getting up in the morning, so he moved from there to Howard Payne in Brownwood, Texas. He got his Bachelor's degree from Lamar University in Beaumont. He then went to Waterloo, Iowa to teach for a couple of years before returning to Edinburg, Texas to finish his Master's degree from Pan American University. Aug. 5, 1961, Charles married the love of his life, Peggy Jeanette McKibben of Lake Jackson, Texas. She was a genteel southern lady, a precious Christian, an accomplished vocalist, a school teacher and a saint. Peggy predeceased Charles on Jan. 22, 2011 just six months short of their fiftieth anniversary. Charles moved his family to Lubbock in 1976, where Peggy taught elementary music education and first grade until her retirement. Charles taught biology and earth science-and so much more-until he retired in 2002. Charles and Peggy were members of First Baptist Church Lubbock since their arrival in Lubbock. Charles was a loyal member of a number of scientific scholastic organizations and served on the governing boards at the state and national level. He had hundreds and hundreds of college hours, and never slowed down learning. He also never slowed down teaching. Charles worked with Planned Parenthood at the local level, and the South Plains Food Bank owes much of its success to the tireless efforts of Mr. Swift and his numerous devoted volunteer students. He was also involved in the South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in his typical dedicated fashion, and was a founding member of the South Plains Wood Turners helping design logos, shirts, sell tickets, sweep up, or whatever was needed. He was a faithful participant and attendee--36 years straight--of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show held annually in Arizona. He has led many people to a keen interest in gems and minerals by taking groups there. Knowing Charles meant knowing of his insatiable appetite for all peoples and cultures of the earth. 74 countries. Seven continents. Thousands of lessons. Tens of thousands of students. Thousands of classrooms. Charles and Peggy raised two extraordinary sons who continue to carry their legacy of mentorship. The first is Matthew Haynes Swift who is married to Angela from Minnesota. They live in Austin, Texas, as does their grown son, Daniel Robert Haynes Swift. Charles and Peggy's youngest son, Jefferson Andrew is married to Stefanie from northern CA, and they are raising a lovely precocious daughter, Piper Cruz and live in Cape Coral, FL. Charles is also survived by his sister, Carol Ann Olachia of Lake Jackson, Texas; his aunt, Dr. Lola Beasley Dawkins of El Paso, and aunt, Sara Magill of Leawood, Kansas. He leaves behind an adoring niece, Harmony Packard (Adam) of Nacogdoches and treasured nephews, Seth Viddal (Vicki) of Bennett, Colorado and Noah Viddal (Rafaye) of New Braunfels, Texas. Some very special cousins, Jim Beasley of New York City, Mike Beasley of Vienna, Virginia, and Brian Beasley of Bailey, Colorado, Dr. George Beasley of Ft Worth, Larry Swift of Midfield, Texas survive Charles. Cousins, Beverly Middle, Kathy O'Kelley, Cynthia Koons, and Kay Hodges and Elvalena Canter also survive Charles. In addition to Charles' immediate family, he leaves behind to revere his memory many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws from Peggy's family. Several of the aforementioned have traveled with him across the country and/or across oceans. The memorial service celebrating the life of Charles H. Swift will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning the 15th of March, 2014, at the First Baptist Church of Lubbock located at 2201 Broadway, Lubbock, Texas 79401. Dr. Bobby Dagnel will officiate. The family-all from out of town-request that in lieu of flowers, and in keeping with Charles style of paying it forward and investing in things that last, donations be made to any of the following worthy causes: South Plains Food Bank Lubbock 4612 Locust Ave Lubbock, Texas 79404 South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center 3308 95th Street Lubbock, Texas 79423 South Plains Wood Turners PO Box 65428 Lubbock, Texas 79464


Published in The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on Mar. 11, 2014