James Rufus Swaim, III
Jim Swaim
James Rufus Swaim, III, 72 years old, passed away on October 6, 2021, peacefully, in his home in Woodinville, WA. Jim was born on May 17, 1949 in Riverside California to James Swaim, Jr. and Penny Swaim (née Dorothy Weldon).
Jim married Michelle Roy on July 3, 1981 in Brea, California and together they raised 3 children. They met at their apartment complex in Anaheim while Michelle was an engineering intern at Hughes Aircraft. He proposed just before she was ready to graduate from the University of Washington to be sure she would return to California. They recently celebrated 40 “blissful” years of marriage.
In his youth, Jim loved playing baseball, football, and surfing. He cherished his opportunity to compete in a surfing competition in Hawaii at 16 years old. Jim graduated from Oceanside High School and after completing his military service, he attended Santa Barbara City College and graduated Magna Cum Laude at the University of California at San Diego.
Jim was a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, serving as an Air Traffic Controller in Thailand in the Vietnam War. He received the Air Force Commendation Medal for his handling of an emergency situation as a fleet of embattled planes came in to find room to land on the single runway.
Jim and Michelle had a home in Dana Point, California where they enjoyed good food, coffee, and strolls at the harbor with the kids. They had 3 children while living there. Shortly after the youngest was born, they moved to Michelle’s home state of Washington to raise their kids and be closer to Michelle’s family. They bought a home outside of Woodinville, WA where Jim enjoyed watching the wildlife visit his backyard.
Jim worked as a National Sales Manager for computer technology companies before starting his own business as a commercial mortgage representative.
Jim is survived by his mother Penny Oxley, his brothers Dennis Rogers and Jamie Swaim, his stepsister Jaima Kennedy, his wife, Michelle Swaim (née Roy), 3 children, Sean Swaim, Alasandra McGrath, and Selena Marzahl.
An honor service will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA 98042. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to World Vision. St. Jude is another charity that Jim supported, if you are so inclined.
Update: The service will be at Tahoma National Cemetery on November 19, 2021 at 12:30.
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Update: The service will be at Tahoma National Cemetary on November 19, 2021 at 12:30.
St. Jude is another charity that Jim supported, if you are so inclined.
My wife, Celia, said she could always tell when I was talking to Jimbo on the phone because I spent 90% of the conversation laughing until I couldn’t breathe. Jimbo has the unique ability to find and describe the humor in almost any situation. Right about now he has his Dad, Jim Swaim Jr., Jim Oxley, my Dad, his best friend, Stevie and several of my friends in stitches…maybe even Jesus. One of his favorite stories is about the time when he was about 5 when he and Jeep were shooting arrows straight up and watching them come back down and stick in the lawn. Well, one time instead of the lawn it stuck in Jimbo’s head. He walked into the kitchen where Mom was preparing one of her “Specialties” (oh no, not again!) and siad “Mom, Jeep shot me in the head with an arrow”. She had her back to him and said “OK, wait a minute” while she finished what she was doing…Jimbo said “OK”, and casually leaned against the door frame. Then Mom said “Alright now, what were you saying?” and turned around and screamed! There was Jimbo with an arrow sticking out of his head and blood running down his face. Actually, the arrow just wedged under the skin…it did not pierce his skull…that would have caused brain damage…wait a minute, that might explain a lot. Anyway, knowing I can’t just pick up the phone and get my laugh for the day is going to take some getting use to and saying I’ll miss him is a monumental understatement. But I know where he is and I know I’ll see him again and for eternity he’llbe my baby brother , keeping us all in stitches. God speed Baby Brother…I love you with all my heart, Brer………