Kenny Swallow Jr.

    Swallow, Kenny Jr., 57, May 8, 2011.  Arrangements by Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton.  Private interment to be held in the Oakfield Cemetery.
   OAKFIELD – Kenny Swallow Jr., loving son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and beloved friend to many, left this earth May 8th at home surrounded by his family at the too young age of only 57 years. Kenny was born in Houlton, the son of Kenneth and Priscilla “Sida” (Brannen) Swallow.
    Kenny lived most of his life in Oakfield, graduating from Oakfield Community High School in 1971. He completed the wood harvesting program at Washington County Vocational Technical Institute and spent the rest of his life working as a logger. He had a great respect for the woods, always using safe harvesting techniques and being sure to cut using selective harvesting methods to ensure the continued growth of the forests. He shared his passion and respect for the woods by spending a few years teaching wood harvesting in the SAVE program at Southern Aroostook High School and he also passed it on to his two sons. He also worked with his father and cousin Newman Gee digging tamarack knees for Newman’s Knees.
    He became a Registered Maine Guide and spent over 20 years guiding hunters in the woods of Aroostook County, making many, many friends that would last a lifetime. Kenny was an avid outdoorsman who loved both hunting and fishing, which was an important way for Kenny to combine his two greatest passions of family and the outdoors. Hunting and fishing gave him many opportunities to spend time with five generations of family throughout his lifetime. One of his greatest joys in his later years was taking his four grandchildren fishing and passing on his love of the great outdoors to them. Some of Kenny’s greatest days were spent with his family and friends running bears and coons with his dogs, going on canoe trips on the rivers, going to deer camp in November, looking for cat tracks in the snow, calling in turkeys, moose hunting in the fall and trapping with his dad and Uncle Joe. Even in his last days, his desire was to get outside as much as he could. His family enjoyed taking him for rides at dusk to see what he could see for wildlife.
    Kenny was a person who enjoyed being with and helping others. He put others before himself and was always “on-call” for the elderly neighborhood ladies, plowing their driveways, trimming their trees, and doing anything that they might need done.
    Kenny was a man of many words and could always talk with anyone, somehow making them laugh. He loved to tell stories and would sit around for hours, reminiscing about hunting and fishing and adventures with his friends and family. He was a true family man, and he got great joy from spending time and having gatherings with family. His greatest accomplish-ment in life was raising four fantastic children with his wife who he was very proud of and loved very much. He always welcomed other kids into his home, having an impact on numerous other lives as well. He also loved to just have fun – going dancing, watching his kids and grandchildren play sports, going to Maine hockey games with his wife, and going camping.
    Kenny was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain cancer, in March 2005. He had a significant will to live and was determined to fight the cancer, living over six years on a six month diagnosis. The cancer didn’t return until March 2011. Despite the cancer being in his brain, he kept his sense of humor, his wit and his personality until his body failed him. He was thankful for all the friends and family who visited and called him during his last days at home.
    In addition to his parents, Ken and Sida, Kenny is survived by his teenage sweetheart of 35 years, Carol (Wilmot); daughters, Kendra LeBreton and  husband Herb, and Kristen Bailey and husband Mitch; sons, Jeffrey and Nathan and “adopted” son Brhaun Parks; grandchildren, Alexis, Kallie, and Braedan LeBreton and Logan Swallow; brothers, Kerry Sr. and Kippy Swallow and wife Abbie; sisters, Lisa Gallagher and husband Keith, Wendy Furrow and husband Rob, and Jill Bustard and husband Andy; nieces and nephews, Meagan Brooks and husband Rick, Clarissa Lane and husband Chubs, Emily and Daniel Furrow, Jennifer and Matthew Bustard, Thomas and Jesse Small, Jonathan Swallow and wife Heather , Kerry Swallow Jr. and wife Ashley, and Micah and Logan Swallow. Kenny will also be missed by special friends Fred Grantier, Wendell Hudson, Larry Stevens, Roy Brisley, Wally McGary, Rich Wallauer and Victor Holomakoff.
    A time to remember Kenny and visit with family will be held from 1-3 and 6-8 p.m. on Friday, May 13th at the Houlton Wesleyan Church, 18 Kelleran St., Houlton where a celebration of his life will also be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14th with Kenny’s good friend Wendell Hudson officiating. A private interment will be held at the Oakfield Cemetery at a later date. As it is a celebration of Kenny’s life, he has requested that no full black attire and no suits and ties be worn. Family would welcome any stories or special times that you have shared with Kenny in person or at dunnfuneral.com.  In lieu of flowers friends may make gifts in Kenny’s memory to Cancer Care of Maine, c/o Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park Street, Houlton ME 04730.