Leah Mae Swindell

Leah Mae Swindell, age 79, died of cancer Friday, October 24th, 2014 at Central Washington Hospital where she was surrounded and comforted by her loving husband and family. Her grandchildren played and sang her favorite songs to her as she passed gently into heaven. Born May 27, 1935 in Gooding, Idaho to Jay and Louise Jones, she was one of nine children. Her family relocated to Wenatchee in 1951 as her father found work at Rocky Reach Dam. Leah fell in love and married Richard C. Swindell on July 6, 1952 at Ohme gardens in Wenatchee where they had three beautiful children. Leah was preceded in death by her seven siblings and one child, Michael C. Swindell. She is survived by her husband, Richard of 62 years; sister, Darla Berg of Port Orchard, WA; her two children, Rickie Leann Chew, of Reedsport, WA and Daniel J Swindell (Virginia), of East Wenatchee, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Leah had a broad set of business experiences ranging from having worked at Thrifty Drugs where she met her husband, to working many years as a checker first for Zittings and then Safeway. Leah also served many milkshakes and hamburgers at Dusty’s Drive Inn. In her middle married life Leah really enjoyed being a member of several tight knit apple packing crews first at Skookum then at Highline Growers. She had a special talent of sewing and taught sewing to employees at Mountain Products. The family moved to Lake Chelan where Leah and her husband opened the Lake Chelan Bed and Breakfast. Along the way Leah helped run her and her husband’s mobile home park in Ellensburg. Even our local bus system owes a debt of gratitude to Leah as she worked diligently behind the scenes to help it come into being. Leah truly excelled the most, however, in her role as a natural catastrophe insurance adjuster together with her husband Dick. Through the years they covered 23 major disasters including hail and rain storms, hurricanes, tornados and floods coast to coast. Leah’s favorite outdoor activities included cross country RV trips, riding trail motorcycles in the local mountains, gardening and boating on Lake Chelan with her family. Unique to Wenatchee, Leah was a circus mother with all three children in the Wenatchee Youth Circus and also provided the lot where the circus practiced in the off season. The family expresses their heart felt thank you for her many friends who brought gifts and wonderfully prepared foods. We would also like to thank Leah’s Dr.’s – Tomas B. Tucker MD and John T. Register MD, Ballard Ambulance, and a very special thank you to the nurses and personnel of Central Washington Hospice that so tirelessly and caringly tended to Leah. Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at Jones & Jones ~ Betts Memorial Chapel. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guest book at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones-Betts Funeral Home. Forever remembered and forever loved may you now rest in peace 1935~2014

Tributes

Leah Mae Swindell

May 29, 1935 - October 24, 2014