George Swain

George Allen Swain of Jal, NM went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday September 11, 2020. A celebration of his life will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 2:00 pm MDT at the First Baptist Church in Jal, with Pastor Jody O’Briant officiating.  Interment will follow at Cooper Cemetery north of Jal.
Known to his family as George Allen and Poppa George, he was one of five children born to George G. and Flonnie Jones Swain, on January 10, 1940, in Saltillo, TX.   He was a long-time resident of Jal after moving from Saltillo with his family as a young boy.  George Allen married Carolynn Williams August 11, 1961 at the Northside Baptist Church in Kermit, TX.  At that time he worked as a carpenter for Blocker Builders and helped build many of the homes in Jal.  He then worked for B&M Construction as a gang hand before joining El Paso Natural Gas Co.  He worked as an operator at the Jal #2 Plant and then took a position in the Measurement department, where he retired in 1996 as a lead technician, after 31 years of service with the company.
Not only was George Allen an avid sports fan, he was an outstanding basketball player in high school and played competitive basketball, volleyball, softball and golf as an adult.  He had a passion for sports and spent many years coaching his girls in the Bobby Sox Softball league and officiating high school volleyball and football.  He truly enjoyed coaching and watching his kids and grandkids compete in sports and took pride in each and every one of their accomplishments, whether it be on the court, gridiron or in the classroom.  Aside from competing and coaching, George Allen also loved to play dominoes, go bird hunting and fishing and especially enjoyed his time squirrel hunting with his dad and brothers and sisters at White Oak Bottom near his hometown of Saltillo.
George Allen is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carolynn; two daughters, Kelly Deck and husband Tommy of Jal, Terri French and husband Rand of Roswell, NM; six grandchildren, Carly and husband Eric Samaniego of San Angelo, TX, Chelsea and husband Kevin Furlow of Lamesa, TX, Ryan and wife Alexandria French of Roswell, NM, Erin Deck of Jal, Cody French of Tempe. AZ, Allie French of Roswell,  and seven great-grandchildren, Caelyn, Colton, Cash, Emma, Porter, Brody, Giovanni as well as Emery Tate due in October.
He is also survived by two brothers: Harold Swain and wife Roxie of Jal and Ronnie Swain and wife Carrie of Tempe, AZ; two sisters Doris Phillips of Tulsa, OK, and Jaqutea Crawford of Jal; one brother-in-law David Williams and wife Judy of Waxahachie, TX and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-laws Teddy Crawford, Buddy Phillips and Jimmy Williams.
Pallbearers are Ryan and Cody French, Kevin Furlow, Eric Samaniego, and Cooper and JayT Crawford.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Women’s Ministry, First Baptist Church, PO Box 358, Jal, NM, 88252 or to a charity of your choice.