Obituary of Stuart G. Swanson

Stuart G. Swanson, 72, of Jamestown, passed away Saturday June 29, 2019 in his home surrounded by his family. He was born October 8, 1946 in Jamestown the son of the late Fred A. and Lois May Fairbanks Swanson. Stuart and his first wife Sandy enjoyed going to garage and estate sales, where they would purchase antique furniture for restoration and resale. Together they loved the thrill of discovering worn or damaged items and restoring them to their original splendor or adding new elements of decoration to adorn them. Stuart also loved metal detecting, enjoying the thrill of finding treasures hidden by nature over time. In his earlier years he was a self-employed carpenter and for a time worked as a carpenter for Chautauqua Institution as well. Stuart's favorite times were spent with family and friends around his kitchen table talking. When together, Stuart and his brothers Randy and Robin would spend hours around his table, laughing, joking and picking on each other. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family. Surviving are, his wife, Melissa Swanson; a son, Gene (Julie) Swanson of Lakewood; four grandchildren: Luke Swanson of Jamestown, Torianna Bekoscke of Lakewood, Kiersten (Matthew) Tancos of Braddock Hts., MD, Benjamin Swanson of Lakewood; two great grandchildren; his step children: Brittany Goodwin and Fred Heller VI; a sister, Sharileen (Dana) Douglas of Jamestown; and a brother, Robin (Belinda) Swanson of Colonial Beach, VA. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Sandra Stanton Swanson whom he married December 4, 1965 and who died August 25, 2001; a grandson, LCpl Aaron M. Swanson who died February 7, 2011; and a brother, Randall Swanson who died June 20, 2016. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday July 3, 2019 in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Dana Douglas will officiate. Burial will be in the Panama Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service Wednesday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the LCpl Aaron M. Swanson Scholarship Fund, c/o Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring Street, Jamestown, NY 14701.