Ezra Swarey

Ezra Israel Swarey, 86, of Evant died Saturday, May 23, 2021, of pneumonia and heart disease.

Private graveside services were to be held Wednesday, May 26, at 11 a.m. in Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery in Evant.

Mr. Swarey was born April 21, 1935, to Israel and Gertrude Swarey.

He met his wife, Barbara, at a church social in Pennsylvania. Barbara remembers his dark curly hair, sociable manner, love of singing and playing the harmonica and rides in his hot-rod buggy.

He liked to take his family on long trips across the country, play music together, fish, hunt, ice-skate, sled and grow large vegetable gardens.

Ezra was a hard worker who believed in God and family. He provided for his large family by building homes, working in construction and farming.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Jacob Swarey, Christian Swarey, Thomas Swarey and Israel Swarey and sisters Elizabeth Stoltzfus, Sarah Fisher and Annie Swarey.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Barbara C. Byler Swarey; brothers Levi Swarey and John Swarey; sister Gertrude Jones; seven children, Sarah Parr, Levi Swarey, Saloma Kelsey, Henry Swarey, Gertrude Atteberry, David Swarey and Kenneth Swarey; eight grandchildren, Sam Sprouse, Kathleen Ernest, Elizabeth Ristau, Carrie Donahue, Elise Smothermon, Travis Atteberry, Cassidy Atteberry and Benjamin Swarey; and four great-grandchildren, Asher, Hannah, Norah and Micah.