LeeAnn LaFave Swanson
LeeAnn LaFave Swanson left this earth on June 13, 2020, after a brief but valiant battle with cancer. At the time of her passing, she resided in Colorado Springs, Colo., but had lived in several cities in Texas and Oklahoma throughout her very full life.
LeeAnn was born in Wills Point, Texas, on Sept. 14, 1958, to G.G. and Betty LaFave. She attended elementary school in Mesquite, Texas, and high school in Stillwater, graduating from C.E. Donart High in 1976.
She attended Oklahoma State University for a time.
She later earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Northeastern State University at the age of 45.
During her lifetime, LeeAnn worked in insurance, accounting and hospice administration, but her greatest joy in life came from being a mother to Chris and Andy, and later a grandmother to Hannah and Arthur.
LeeAnn married Joe Swanson on Feb. 12, 2012, and after living in Texas and Oklahoma they were finally able to fulfill her dream of living near the mountains when they moved to Colorado in 2016.
LeeAnn always loved family gatherings with her children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, and nephews, and never missed a chance to express her love to each of them with cards and gifts on their birthdays.
LeeAnn also loved her little dog Pablo, sunflowers, music and performing comedy. She was a prolific and humorous writer who left behind many blog entries for us to remember her wit and kind heart.
She always had a story to tell.
LeeAnn is survived by her husband Joe Swanson; son Christopher Byers and wife Juliet of Ada; son Andy Byers and wife Liz of Colorado Springs; sister Connie Gallupe and husband Grant of Kingfisher; brother Robert LaFave of Edmond; and brother Garry LaFave and wife Shelly of Cashion.
She was a grandmother to Arthur Byers and Hannah Byers.
She was an aunt to Jesse, Jenna, Jordan, Eric, Anna and Jackson and great-aunt to Carter, Cooper, Wyatt and Noah.
She was preceded in death by her mother Betty, father Frenchy and brother Jimmy.
A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Friday, June 26, at First United Methodist Church in Muskogee.
Those wishing to send flowers may send them to the First United Methodist Church of Muskogee. But if you prefer, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society or to your local animal shelter.