Clifford Ray Swain

The beginning...

Clifford Swain was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma to his mother Gladys and father Clifton Swain and was raised in Spencer, Oklahoma in a family of three girls and nine boys. Clifford attended Star Spencer High School where he was a star football player, affectionately nicknamed "knees" and was often highlighted in the high school and local newspaper. He wished to one day play for the Dallas Cowboys (Win or lose cowboys fan for life). Upon high school graduation, he enlisted in the Navy and began his three year tour aboard the USS Kitty Hawk Aircraft Carrier headed to Japan. While in the Navy he spent his leisure time Boxing. During a weekend break (August 2, 1963) he came home to marry the love of his life, Savana, who he had met when they were 15 years old. They have been married for 60 years!

The middle...

At the end of his 3 year tour Clifford and Savana moved to the Pacific Northwest by way of Bremerton, Washington then Portland, Oregon. Clifford and Savana started their family in Portland giving birth to their daughter Jalanda and son Kiley. He was a loving and active father involved in every club membership, attending every school meeting and sporting event, including coaching little league teams in the summer. Fishing, biking, gardening, trips to the Oregon coast and traveling in the states and abroad. Supporting his children in their every endeavor.

Clifford was active in the community, be it community justice meetings and sit-ins, and neighborhood improvement projects. Clifford and his family have been long time members of Maranatha Church and they were both on the Usher Board for many years.

Clifford attended Portland Community College and worked various jobs including Nabisco, Union Pacific Railroad as a Journeyman Welder and U.S. Department of Agriculture in Soil Conservation (retired).

Clifford was a strong, nurturing, kind, generous, extremely resilient, fiercely independent man who truly loved his family. He was often referred to as "a miracle" because he survived seemingly insurmountable health challenges with a smile on his face and pure joy in his heart. Blessed and highly favored. He touched so many lives! He spoke, talked, joked with everyone that he came into contact with and the sentiment is always the same, "I know Cliff, he's a good man"..."He brightens my day".

Clifford lived life to the fullest despite perceived physical limitations. He often said that God has the final say.

The end...

Clifford Swain is survived by his wife Savana Swain, his daughter Jalanda Swain, his son Kiley Swain and his grandson Devin Swain. As well as his brother Ezell Swain who lives in Oregon, Levi Swain (Shirlyn) who lives in Alabama and sisters Ethelene Parker (Alvin) and Leda Fay Thompson who both live in Oklahoma and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his sister, Wilma Lee Muse and brothers, Buerl Swain, Eugene Swain, Pleasant Swain, Earl Swain, Leroy Swain and Arzell Swain.

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