Gary Wayne Swaffer, age 63, of Clarksville, Tennessee, passed away September 15, 2024.
Funeral services will be conducted at Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Pleasant View at 1:00PM on Friday, September 20, with Pastor Randy Hester officiating. Burial will follow in Mallory’s Church Cemetery with Gerald Jackson, Ken Benca, Carl Owens, Isaiah Groh, Rachell Willhite, Ann Swaffer, and Jerry Carney serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 10:00AM until the hour of service at 1:00PM.
Gary was born on March 18,1961 in Clarksville Tennessee to the late William “Bill” and Mary Swaffer. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Ann (Rachell), and brother Mark; two nieces, Abbie and Ellie. Also survived by sister-in-law’s and brother-in-law, Clara (Carl) Owens, Dorothy (Mario) Hernandez and Lewis Wilson.
Gary’s roots began in Tennessee and continued in Amarillo, Texas during his early youth. While in Texas, he excelled in sports including football, baseball and hockey. In 1974, the Swaffer family returned to Tennessee and Gary played a pivotal role in running the family farms that Bill and Mary grew up on in Cheatham and Montgomery County even after graduating Cheatham County Central High School in 1979. Gary began a career at the Jersey Miniere Zinc Co. (Nyrstar) in Clarksville that spanned 6 years. Shortly after, he pursued a lifelong career in construction that included carpentry, plumbing, office renovation and new home/condo construction.
Gary was a dedicated husband, son and brother who was beloved by family and friends. He was an avid car enthusiast, an exceptional carpenter and was known to be the life of the party. Gary will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but his memory will remain in the hearts of all those who knew him.
If so desired memorial contributions may be made to Mallory’s Cemetery Fund, PO Box 601 Pleasant View, TN 37146.
