Jerry Dale Swindell
Celeste, Texas–Jerry Swindell fought the good fight and left this world for a better place on April 7, 2025, at Greenville Gardens, Greenville, Texas with a smile on his face; he was proud to have been born in Hogeye on September 18, 1940 to William Henry Swindell and Artie Faye Wheat.
In 1959, Jerry graduated from Celeste High School and on February 11, 1961, he was married to the former Sarah Sue Roach in Celeste. Jerry spent much of his working adult life as a Procter and Gamble employee in Dallas and enjoyed almost every moment of his time at the plant. While in the maintenance department most of his career, he also traveled for the company and assisted with the local plant budget as well as the approval of financial vouchers and equipment orders. He loved tending to his farm and cattle in Celeste and helping others. Jerry served on the Celeste City Council, the Celeste ISD School Board as secretary, the Hunt Collin and Cap Rock Electric Cooperative boards, the Hunt County MHMR, and had been a Lion and a Mason. Some parts of his heart have always been reserved for the underdog or mistreated, the ill, young, and the elderly. He was a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Church of Christ. His survivors have always considered him a great man–not that his name will ever be recorded in any history other than his family genealogy, which he enjoyed, but because he was their Knight in Shining Armor. He stood firm on The Golden Rule and values of fair play, honesty, and good citizenship. With his sense of humor and dedication to getting the work done right, the hours of toil went by easily. You could count on him and his word.
His survivors are his wife of Celeste; son and daughter-in-law, David L. Swindell (Jessica) of Sherman; and daughter Shelly Swindell of Celeste. Also, sister-in-law Alice Roach (John Garcia) of Celeste; brother-in-law, Howard (Bud) Roach (Celia) of Whitewright; darling granddaughter, Paizlee Swindell; and precious grandson, Owen Seth Swindell; and numerous other relatives including nieces, nephews, and cousins as well as many friends–Buddy Hopewell, Elwood Jones, Richard Lyday, Ron Lyon, John Taylor, Phil Eggers, William Jay Seely, and Don Lambeth.
Besides his parents of Celeste; Jerry was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, W. T. Swindell (Lorene) of Sulphur Springs; sister of Celeste in infancy; brother and sister-in-law Glyn Swindell (Irene) of Garland; sister and brother-in-law Kathryn Louise Martin (Don) of Celeste, sister-in-law Pat Roach Pruitt (David) of Midland; nephew Rick Martin of Houston; niece Jan Swindell of Sulphur Springs; niece and nephew Batona Gaytha Swindell and William Robert Swindell of Garland; and his lifelong friends, Melvin Smith, Ralph Harold Evans, and Archie Lowe whom he loved like brothers.
The family would like to thank all the dedicated, attentive angels in health uniforms who have cared with loving hands and gentle hearts over the years and especially since December 3, 2024.
A memorial may be planned in the future, in the meantime hug those you love and do a good deed. If you so desire, you may honor Jerry’s memory by donating in his name to your favorite charity.
