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RAY LESTON SWAIM

Ray Leston Swaim, 91, of Myers Chapel Road, Hayesville died Monday (November 14, 2005). A native of Buncombe County, he had been a resident of Clay County since the age of four. He was the son of the late Benjamin E. and Zennie Robinson Swaim. He attended Hayesville schools, but regretted his decision to drop out of school and at the age of 60, he received his GED. As an apprentice of his father and uncle, Bob Swaim, he learned the art of carpentry and rock/block masonry. This gave him the knowledge to build 42 houses and three churches. He was a substitute rural letter mail carrier for 31 years. In his later years, he taught carpentry at Hayesville High School. He was a member of the Hayesville Masonic Lodge 301 since 1948 and the Myers Chapel and Ledford's Chapel United Methodist Churches. He served in all areas of leadership. Music was a special part of his life whether singing bass in the church choir or being a part of a gospel quartet. The sounds of the fiddle, banjo, and guitar often brought he and his family extra joy. His hobbies were fishing, golf, and pool. It was often told that he could catch a fish where the land was dry and many other fishermen only fished where they had seen Ray's truck parked.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Zella Cowart Swaim; a daughter, Betty Jo Smathers and husband, George Leslie of Canton, NC; a brother, Frank Swaim and wife, Irene of Cornelia, GA; two grandchildren, Brent Smathers and wife, Tara of Mars Hill, NC and Lora Smathers of Asheville; and a great grandson, George Ethan Smathers of Mars Hill.

Funeral services at 3:00 PM Wednesday (Nov. 16) in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville with the Revs. Jackie Sellers, Edward Herring, and Doug Love officiating. Burial in the Myers Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1-2:45 at the Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville prior to the services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The Ray Swaim Memorial Scholarship Fund, as a tribute to his value of education, at United Community Bank, PO Box 1050, Hayesville, NC 28904.

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