Irvan Ray Swarey

Irvan Ray Swarey, 62, of 277 Hubbard Road, Long Island died Wednesday, April 5, 2017. He was a loving husband to Sharon Joan Swarey for 40 years. He was born November 13, 1954 in Stuarts Draft, a son of the late Benjamin B. Swarey and Mary M. Yoder Swarey of Stuarts Draft Va. He lived his life in service to others raising and loving 9 children, reaching out to neighbors near and far. He showed the love of Christ his Lord to all he met, a willing smile and a word of encouragement was always soon to come when talking with Irvan. He loved his 26, soon to be 28, grandchildren and they all adored "Papa" as well. He Loved to work on clocks in his spare time, when not driving truck for Robertson sawmill or caring for the flocks of laying hens in the chicken houses he owned. Irvan was a member and usher at Bethel Mennonite Church for many years, a warm welcome to all who came through the doors of Perrow's Chapel and Bethel Mennonite Church. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Nathan Irvan Swarey and his wife Elizabeth of Gladys, Benjamin Ray Swarey and his wife Mindy of South Boston and Seth David Swarey and his wife Sarah of Long Island; six daughters, Cynthia Marie Beachy and her husband James of Dover DE, Kristena Mae Weaver and her husband Wayne of Gladys, Rhonda Joann Yoder and her husband Lyndon of Gladys, Mary Beth Martin and her husband Lee of Long Island, Rosanna Sharon Kropf and her husband Nevin of Gladys and Charity Ruth Swarey of Long Island; three brothers, Thomas Swarey and his wife Tina of Stuarts Draft, Allen Swarey and his wife Sylvia of Stuarts Draft and twin brother Ivan Swarey of Greenville; and twenty-eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant brother, Paul M. Swarey; and a sister-in-law, Lena Swarey. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Saturday, April 8, 2017 at Bethel Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall. A funeral service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, April 9, 2017 at Bethel Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall with interment to follow in the church cemetery. Finch and Finch Funeral and Cremation Service, Gladys is in charge of arrangements.

Irvan Ray Swarey

November 13, 1954 - April 5, 2017