Cleo Dowd Swanson

Dowd “Junior” Swanson, 83, Geronimo, OK

Graveside services at the Walters Cemetery, Walters, OK at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 11, 2018, Pastors Tony Elkins and Steve Mallow officiating under the direction of Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home in Walters.

Cleo Dowd “Junior” Swanson was born to Dowd and Fannie (Dockrey) Swanson on May 17, 1934, northeast of Walters and departed this life in Oklahoma City on May 7, 2018 at the age of 83 years, 11 months and 21 days.

He grew up and attended school at Walters and then spent 2 years in college at Waxahachie, TX before joining the U.S. Army, serving 2 years in Germany. He was employed at Cotton Electric when he met and married Katie Lou Blackwell 6 weeks to hour from the time they met. They had to daughters, Crystal Ann and Angela Diane. The couple celebrated 57 years of marriage on March 18th.

He moved to New Mexico with the family and was employed by Southern Union Gas Co. and Lea County Electric before moving back to Lawton to attended Cameron College. He then became the Southwest District manager for Bruce Terminix for a time before working at Chillicothe Correctional Institute as tower guard, then outside patrol, then prerelease officer, eventually taking charge of Hocking Honor Camp. He then went back to pest control setting up offices in Dayton and McArthur. After a few years he took the family south to a warmer climate at Angleton, south of Houston, working 11 years for Baker Sand Control as an off-shore tool specialist. They eventually moved back to Geronimo where he drove a bus and did maintenance for the school, then drove a sanitation truck for the city during his last years working.

Dowd enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting and boating. He was a member of Abundant Life Church in Geronimo.

He was preceded in death by his parents and 9 brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Katie Lou Swanson of the home; 2 daughters, Crystal Ann Gourley of Geronimo and Angela Diane Turner of Lawton; 3 grandchildren, Fawn Krodel of Jacksonville, FL, Tory Turner of DeRidder, LA and Laci Molder of Lawton, OK; 8 great grandchildren, Saraya, Harley, Dakota, Kadyn, Braylynn, Tristan, Audri and Jathan; a great-great granddaughter, Sophia Grace; nieces and nephews, Don and Wanda Wilson, Vicky Snyder, Karen, Jeff Jones and Eddie Stevenson; other relatives and friends.