Michael Thomas Swisley

A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF AUBURN, MICHAEL, WAS BORN JULY 13, 1949 TO ELEANOR LOUISE BECK AND THOMAS PATRICK SWISLEY.

WHEN THE NATION CALLED, MICHAEL AND A COUPLE OF FRIENDS VOLUNTEERED FOR THE DRAFT AND, ULTIMATELY, VIETNAM. THE PROUD US ARMY VETERAN SERVED AS AN AIRBORNE RANGER OF THE 173RD BRIGADE, 75TH INFANTRY, 2ND BATTALION, N GROUP.

MICHAEL MET THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE, JEANETTE, ON THE SCHOOL BUS IN KINDERGARTEN, AND THAT IS WHERE THEIR LOVE STORY BEGAN. THE COUPLE MARRIED SHORTLY AFTER MICHAEL RETURNED FROM WAR AND BEGAN THEIR FAMILY WITH JACOB BEING BORN IN 1976, AND JEFFREY IN 1978. MICHAEL AND JEANETTE SAID THEY WOULD BE MARRIED FOREVER AND WERE, THEIR NUPTIALS LASTING OVER 50 YEARS UNTIL HIS PASSING.

MICHAEL WORKED AT THE LUMBER MILL IN AUBURN BEFORE AND AFTER THE WAR, ORIGINALLY THE CAL IDA LUMBER MILL AND LATER TO BE KNOWN AS THE BOHEMIA LUMBER MILL. SOON AFTER THIS HE WOULD BECOME AN ARTIST WITH METAL AND WELDING, AND PROFECT ANY NEW CRAFT HE WAS INSPIRED BY. HE WORKED FOR DON ROBINSON, ALPHA EXPLOSIVES, DON DOUGHERTY, PHIL REOME, AND OTHERS. HE WOULD FIND TIME TO HELP FRIENDS WITH THEIR PROJECTS ALONG THE WAY, WORKING FOR AND INSPIRING A GROUP OF FRIENDS KNOWN AS THE AIR PIRATES, THAT WOULD RECOVER AND SALVAGE LOST AIR SHIPS. HE ALSO ENJOYED WORKING ON AND RESTORING CLASSIC CARS, AMONG MANY OTHER INSPIRATIONS.

WHEN MICHAEL RETIRED HE NEVER STOPPED TINKERING OR CREATING. IF HE WASN'T WORKING ON A PROJECT AT HOME, HE WAS HELPING A FRIEND WITH THEIRS.

HE IS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS FATHER THOMAS (TOM), AND HIS BROTHER PATRICK (PAT).

MICHAEL IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE JEANETTE, SONS, JACOB (JAKE) AND JEFFREY (JEFF). HIS MOTHER ELEANOR, HIS BROTHERS

ROBERT (BOB), AND WILLIAM (BILL) AS WELL AS HIS GRANDCHILDREN LYLA AND WYATT.

MIKE WILL FOREVER BE MISSED BY THOSE THAT KNEW HIM.