Gerald Lee Swain

Jerry was born in Skowhegan to the late Eugene Swain and Helena Withee Trafton on October 7th, 1951. Jerry graduated from the Skowhegan Area High School in 1971 and later enlisted in the Navy. Born and raised on a dairy farm, Jerry had farming in his veins. He owned and operated a trucking company for a large part of his life, but his heart and most of his time was spent farming. His passion grew into a large crop farm, covering thousands of acres of corn and grass.

Through working as a truck driver for Hartin & Ames Inc., Jerry met his wife Thelma Ames. They later married in the summer of 1977. He and his wife were blessed with two daughters, Melissa Swain of Brighton, MA, and Emilee Swain Robertson of Canaan, ME. Blessed with two daughters might be a stretch, but his two Grandsons were certainly the light of his life. Jerry loved children, and especially enjoyed spending time with his little grandson Ashton on the tractor. All of the children in the area were special to Jerry. He was always quick to make time for a kid.

Jerry was known all over the community. He could often be found drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes with friends. He was the guy that would give the shirt off his back, even when he had nothing to give. He had a gruff exterior, with a teddy bear heart.

He enjoyed tractor pulling, snowmobiling, maple sugaring, fishing, fixing equipment, and prided himself as the “messiah” of Detroit engines. Always quick to remind everyone that he had forgotten more than any of us would ever know about diesel engines. Of all his hobbies, tractor pulling was closest to his heart. Jerry especially enjoyed being at the Skowhegan and Clinton Fairs each fall with his friends from across New England and Eastern Canada. Everyone knew when Jerry pulled because a cloud of black smoke lingered after his red tractor yanked the sled out of the arena. “Cheaters are beaters,” he would laugh, helping any and all to turn their pumps up and cheat as bad as him. He pulled tractors for nearly thirty years, with his favorite being an International 1466. It was a family event, his brother, daughter, son-in-law, nephew and hopefully grandsons someday all following in his footsteps.

Other than his wife Thelma and two daughters, Jerry leaves behind two grandsons Ashton and Cohen Robertson, son-in-law Ethan Robertson, his favorite nephew Daryl Swain Jr., uncle Malcolm Swain, aunt Irma Swain, brothers: David Swain, Brian Swain, Daryl Swain Sr., Neil Swain, Kenny Williams, Larry Williams, Michael Trafton, James Trafton, John Trafton Jr., sisters: Jean York, Dolly Bernier, Rosalie Rizza, and Rebecca Trafton. Jerry is predeceased by his parents, his step-mother Flavie Swain, and brother Roy Williams.

Viewing Hours will be held from 6 to 8 pm on Friday the 4th of June at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine.

Starting at 2 pm on Saturday June 5th, there will be a tractor procession beginning at the Canaan One Stop and arriving at the Fairview Cemetery. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 on Saturday at the Fairview Cemetery in Canaan. Following the services there will be a tractor procession from the cemetery to Jerry’s garage on the Moores Mills Rd. in Canaan.