Shirley Ann McClinton Swiger, age 77, passed peacefully on April 3, 2025 at her home in Arlington, Texas. She was born on September 25, 1947 in Decatur, Texas and was the only child of Earnest Ray McClinton and Lillie Maye Woolaver McClinton. As a child, her family moved a lot eventually settling in Fort Worth where she attended junior high and high school.

Her parents divorced when she was a young teenager and in 1965 her mother married James B. Lefler. The marriage also brought her a sister, Joy. Jim and Joy became an important part of her life and were considered family.

In 1966, she married Billy Dean Swiger and together they had two children, Debbie and Brad. Shirley was a homemaker and devoted wife and mother while her children were growing up. She was very supportive of her kids and everything they were involved in. She was very active with the PTA, Blue Birds, Cub Scouts and Band Boosters and was recognized for her volunteer work with these organizations.

Shirley’s greatest pride came from her two grandchildren, Justin and Daniel. She was a frequent babysitter when they were little and loved to play with them, bake cookies with them and attend their school activities as they were growing up. Even as they became adults, they were her favorite people to spend time with.

In 1998, Billy went into business for himself and opened a print shop which gave the entire family the unique opportunity to work together every day. Shirley took on the roles of bookkeeper, book-assembler, box-packer, errand-runner and many other tasks. Even the grandkids helped out on school breaks and in the summer. Working together helped to foster the close family bond that continues today. She and Billy retired in 2015.

Shirley is survived by her husband of 59 years, Billy Swiger; daughter, Debbie Ford and husband, Brian of Arlington, Texas; son, Brad Swiger of Fort Worth, Texas; grandsons, Justin Whalin of Mansfield, Texas and Daniel Ford of Arlington, Texas; sister, Joy Hoyos of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; as well as many cousins who were as close to her as siblings and a host of extended family and friends who loved her.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Lillie Maye Lefler; father, Earnest Ray McClinton; and step-father, James B. Lefler.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 27 at 2pm at the Bob Duncan Center in Arlington, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington, TX 76014.

The family asks that you consider a donation to one of these organizations in lieu of flowers or other gifts:

The Foundation for Fighting Blindness: https://donate.fightingblindn…

The American Cancer Society: https://donate.cancer.org/

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