William "Bill" Arthur Swaney Sr.

May 14, 1932 - July 19, 2020

William “Bill” Arthur Swaney, Sr., 88, of South Coffeyville, Oklahoma, died Sunday, July 19, 2020. Bill was born May 14, 1932, in Chanute, Kansas, to parents Orval Kenneth and Hattie Olive (Greyson) Swaney. He graduated from Chanute High School. After he graduated high school, Bill joined the United States Air Force and served our country as a mechanic. Bill started his career as a mechanic in his fathers’ shop, O.K. Auto Salvage in Chanute. In his father’s shop is where he learned the most about the trade and became very good at it! He has also worked at Gates Rubber Company in Denver, Colorado, the smelter in Coffeyville, Haliburtons, Aptus and worked at Swaneys Auto Shop in Denver as well as in Coffeyville. Bill always had a shop anywhere he lived. In the early 2000s, Bill purchased a shop in South Coffeyville and opened Swaneys Transmission. His son Bill Jr. joined him in the shop and eventually Bill Jr. took over running the shop and Bill Sr. semi-retired. He married Cora Etta (Johnson) on November 8, 1952. The couple spent 67 years together and she will miss him greatly. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Kenneth Swaney and Orval Swaney and one grandson William “Billy” Arthur Swaney III. He is survived by his wife, Cora, of the home; daughters Cynthia Gazaway and husband Mike of Noxon, Montana, Elizabeth Swires and husband Steve of Burn Lake, British Columbia and Rebecca Swaney, of the home; son William A. Swaney Jr. and wife Edna of Wann, Oklahoma; grandchildren Nathanial Swires, Cynthia Cherie, Jessica Swaney, Samuel Gazaway, Janet Hillgartner, Jeremiah Swaney, Brianna Swaney and Levi Swaney; great grandchildren Mircedes Swaney, Ashleigh Swaney, Connor Wickens, Lauren Wickens, Dylan Swaney, Lizzy Swires, Cora-Lynn Hillgartner and Josiah Hillgartner; great great grandchild Caiden Davis; sisters Melva Hudson and Thelma Asher; numerous nieces, nephews and relatives by love Monica Huston, Luker and Elizabeth “Pooh” Jennings Owens.