Clarence David Swan

Clarence David Swan was born January 29, 1930 in Cleveland, Oklahoma; the son of Neil James and Cleora Irene (McAffrey) Swan. David was raised and attended school in Cleveland, graduating from Cleveland High School in 1948. While attending school, David was active in the Future Farmers of America, serving as President of the Cleveland Chapter and showing New Hampshire chickens. He also sold hatching eggs from his 165 White Wyandotte hens. After graduation, David worked as a grocery store clerk for a short time before enlisting in the United States Navy. David was inducted into the service of his country on August 7, 1948 in the United States Navy. After completion of boot camp, David attended Class A Radio School and was then assigned as a shipboard radio operator during the Korean War. During his honorable service, David received the following awards and citations, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorable discharged on July 25, 1952. After returning to Oklahoma upon the completion of his military service, David attended the University of Tulsa for a couple of years prior to accepting employment with Carter Oil Company. He then began a career in the water and wastewater treatment industry working for Smith and Loveless, Inc. After gaining knowledge and experience in the field of pump station design and manufacture, grit removal systems for municipal headwords and industrial process streams, David operated his own business, the Swan Company, providing consulting and design systems for wastewater treatment. Even after his retirement in 1994, he has continued to be called upon to provide his expertise to municipalities and other companies in the area. David enjoyed nature. He was proud of his Native American heritage as a member of the Cherokee Tribe and liked hunting, fishing and the solitude of the outdoors. He also enjoyed ice hockey and was a coach of several little league teams in the Tulsa Minor Hockey League. His love for hockey led to the opening and operation of the H&S Sporting Goods store for a while, providing the initial ice skate sharpening and hockey equipment store in Tulsa. He also enjoyed reading and writing; he wrote many short stories and poems some of which were published. For the past several years, David has resided in rural Pawnee County, near Cleveland remaining true to his heritage and enjoying the solitude of rural life. He loved all of Godís creation and especially liked wildlife. He had trained a wild fox to actually eat from his hand and later her kits to also enjoy this close association. In 1995 David was honored by the Cleveland Education Association when he was presented the Friend of Education Award. David passed away on Thursday, January 29, 2009 at the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa at the age of seventy-nine. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Neil James Swan, Jr.; and two sisters, Suzanne Swan and Wilma Lee Eisehour. He is survived by two sons, Jon Swan of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Russell Creath of McKinney, Texas; a daughter, Julie Bailey of Tulsa, Oklahoma; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, JoAnn Hewitt of Cleveland, Oklahoma and Donna Cable of Cleveland, Oklahoma; and two brothers, John R. Swan of Rogers, Arkansas and Jerry Swan of Owasso, Oklahoma.