Thomas Rowland Swann

Thomas Rowland Swann died April 24, 2015, after a 2½ year battle with multiple myeloma. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by loving family. He was born on March 27, 1927, to Ruth Baldwin Swann and Elam Franklin Swann in Tyler, Texas. A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 1, 2015, at 11:30 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, Tyler, Texas. The Reverend David Luckenbach will officiate. Tommy was from a pioneer East Texas family. His grandfather came to Smith County from Alabama in a covered wagon in 1856. After Tommy graduated from Tyler schools, he attended The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. His college education was interrupted when he joined the U.S. Navy. He shipped out just as World War II ended, but in the mid-Pacific his ship hit a mine and was badly damaged. The rest of his time in the service was spent in Japan where his ship was repaired and he participated in the occupation of Japan. Soon after his discharge, he entered the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a B.B.A. degree. He was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and met his future wife there. In 1950, he joined his father and brother in the family furniture business. During the Korean War he joined the U.S. Navy Reserve and was commissioned as an ensign. In 1989, Tommy retired from Swann Furniture Company and entered private business. Tommy married Frances Sleeper Dossett of Waco on July 30, 1949. Their life together has been centered on faith, family and friends. Tommy was a member of Christ Episcopal Church for over seven decades. As a teenager he was an acolyte, as a young man he was on the vestry, and in his later years he was involved in the church outreach ministries. Tommy was an enthusiastic outdoorsman who loved to fish, hunt and play tennis—sports which brought him much happiness and many good friends. He particularly enjoyed these activities with his sons. He was devoted to his family and leaves them a solid legacy of faith, dependability and integrity. Two siblings, Carolyn Swann Key and Elam Franklin Swann, Jr., preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, by his three children, Thomas Dossett Swann and wife Laura of Waco, Andrew Rowland Swann and wife Rosemary of Tyler, and Alethea Swann Bugg and husband Bruce of San Antonio, by his grandchildren, Betsy Swann of Austin, Alice Swann Troberman and husband Toby of Austin, and Jim Bugg and Tom Bugg of San Antonio, by one great-grandchild, Dossett H. Troberman, and by many nieces, nephews and cousins and his faithful dog, Bella. Honorary pallbearers are Rob Caton, Jim Deakins, Bernie Ward, Tommy Ramey, James McCain, Jeff Buford, Sam Wolf, and Kelly Walker. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Christ Episcopal Church, 118 S. Bois d’Arc, Tyler, Texas 75702, Believe and See, 200 N. Beckham, Tyler, Texas 75702 or the charity of your choice. The family would like to express great appreciation to The Hospice of East Texas for their extremely caring and professional help to us in our time of need.

Thomas Rowland Swann

March 27, 1927 - April 24, 2015