Jerry Swafford

HAMILTON - Jerry Swafford passed away quickly after work Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, at his home in Hamilton.

He hadn't practiced his banjo, yet, but that was the next thing he would have done.

Jerry was brought into this world by his grandma, Marie, in 1942 in Heyburn, Idaho. He was the second in a series of five boys born to his mother, Lucille.

The Swafford family moved to Shelley, Idaho, where Jerry graduated from high school. While in high school, Jerry excelled as an athlete, was elected to Boys State, and began developing his spectacular musical talent.

After graduation from Shelley High School, Jerry struggled in search of his life goals. He was fortunate to have experienced life to the fullest. Jerry lived many different lives.

In his early years he was a cowboy, a trapper, a musician, a sheepherder, and a mountain man.

He was always a philosopher, a psychologist and an avid reader. Jerry attended the University of Idaho and Idaho State University for several years searching for his career while spending his summers working for the U.S. Forest Service fighting forest fires. Jerry worked on the first USFS Helitack crew for the USFS out of Cobalt, Idaho.

Two wonderful events forged the remainder of Jerry's life. First, Jerry met his life mate and soul mate, Maryett, who became Maryett Swafford in 1968. It was the beginning of a lifetime romance exemplified by their constant mutual love and respect. They lived, loved and worked side by side for 40 years. They were always a team.

The second event occurred when he realized his life calling in the chiropractic field. Jerry and Maryett moved to Oregon in 1968 where Jerry began his professional education at Western States Chiropractic College. Jerry graduated, summa cum laude, in 1975. Jerry was educated and experienced in child birth and maternal care and experienced the joy of delivering his first child, Marcus, at his home in 1974.

He began his extraordinary practice in Pocatello, Idaho, in 1976 by joining the Dr. Henry West Jr. and Sr. each of whom were renowned and distinguished in their field. In 1976, he delivered his second son, Matthew, at home and claimed "it was worth a year in church." In 1979, he became president of the Idaho Chiropractic Association.

In the fall of 1980, Jerry and Maryett moved their family to the beautiful Bitterroot Valley, and settled in with some of the best people on earth. Jerry was a rare and true professional, who preferred the less lucrative but more meaningful role and life of a small town country doctor. He never forgot his Hippocratic Oath and turned no one away. He was generous and kind, accepting whatever could be paid for his services.

He spent the rest of his life in the valley he loved, caring for his patients, experiencing nature, and enjoying his family.

Jerry was a Christian whose church was in nature. He loved being outdoors, or at the kitchen window watching the light play on the mountains and watching the squirrels eat all the bird seed. He loved to play music and sing. Recently he began playing the banjo with all the crazy bluegrassers and thoroughly enjoyed recalling the old-time tunes his grandma used to sing.

His bluegrass friends were like brothers to him. He relished every minute of it.

Though Jerry died at an early age, he lived and loved life to the fullest. He never lost his priorities, continuing seeking to serve people, achieve inner peace, and the enjoyment of life with his wife and family.

Jerry's family includes his wife, Maryett; two sons, Marcus and Matthew; daughter-in-law, Stephanie; daughter-in-law, Sara; grandchildren, Christen, Aaron, Christopher, Makayla, Elias; Ron Swafford and John Rosenkrance, brothers living; Allen Swafford, Jack Swafford, brothers preceding him in death; and a loving mother, Lucille Rosenkrance, who was a strong influence over each of her children's lives. Sadly, Lucille has been forced to endure the raising five sons only to experience the grief of having three of them precede her in death.

He was a proud father and grandpa, best friend and partner to his wife and family for 40 years. He was a unique man who made everyone's life a little brighter; a little better. He will be truly missed. To know him was to love and respect him.