SWALLOW, Lewis Ellery “Mike”, 91, Oakfield, July 26, 2016. 
Services were held at the Houlton United Methodist Church on Sat., July 30 at 1 p.m. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Houlton.
OAKFIELD — Lewis Ellery “Mike” “Hammie” Swallow, 91, died July 26, 2016, at Madigan Estates health care facility in Houlton.
Mike was born Feb. 21, 1925, in Oakfield, the second son of Harry and Thursie (Parker) Swallow. He attended Oakfield schools, and graduated in 1942 from Oakfield Community High School, where he played basketball and baseball, participated in speaking contests and one-act plays, and excelled in agriculture studies.
He served in the U.S. Navy 1943-1946, achieving the rank of Radarman Second Class. He was stationed in the South Pacific, including Guam, Guadalcanal, Okinawa and the Philippines, during World War II, aboard a PT tender and the U.S.S. Boston. He was a member of American Legion Post 52 in Oakfield.
Following the war, Mike worked at C.H. Perry Jeweler in Houlton; he also was employed by Dunn Furniture, Ward Cabin Company, the Houlton Drive-In, and Vose Peabody Real Estate. He was an insurance representative with National Life of Vermont for more than 50 years, writing policies throughout Aroostook County and winning numerous awards, including memberships in the Million Dollar Round Table and the President’s Club.
Mike married Ruth V. Morrison on Feb. 28, 1946. They made their home in Houlton and, for a short time, in Satellite Beach, Florida, and together raised three sons, giving them a secure, loving home. Ruth passed away in 1973, and Mike lived in Veazie for a number of years before returning to Houlton, and later to Oakfield. He married Mary E. Miller on Dec. 30, 1995.
Mike was a long-time member of the Houlton United Methodist Church, serving on many of its boards and committees, and was active in the church’s Men’s Group. He also was a member, through the years and often in leadership positions, of the Jaycees, Houlton Rotary, Parent Teacher Association, local Republican Committee, March of Dimes drive, O.C.H.S. Alumni Association, and Oakfield Historical Society. He served on the Houlton School Committee and the Oakfield Board of Selectmen.
One of Mike’s greatest joys was the Swallow woods camp at Cut Pond, where he spent many a night swapping stories with family and friends; he loved fishing, especially fly-fishing, and was a hunter and trapper as well. He enjoyed picking berries and planting a garden, walking the woods trails and paddling the ponds, snow-sledding and cross-country skiing. Mike was an amateur photographer and painter, and was good at fly-tying and carpentry. He enjoyed high school basketball games, cheering for the New York Yankees, playing cards with friends, and watching his great-grandson play soccer. Affectionately called “Hammie” by his grandchildren, he loved spending time with them. Mike was outgoing, kind and good, a man of integrity, honesty, generosity, and humor. His love of country and service to community, his faith and his friendship, were a witness to all who knew him.
Mike was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, Ruth; three brothers, Donald “Pat” Swallow, Archie “Joe” Swallow, and Kenneth Swallow; two brothers-in-law, Olin McLaughlin and Ralph Morrison; a sister-in-law, Gloria Swallow. He leaves his wife, Mary Miller of Oakfield; three sons, Formann Swallow and his wife Barbara of Houlton, Gregory Swallow and his wife Kristy of Hodgdon, Peter Swallow of Bangor; a step-daughter, Donna Woodard and her husband Steve of Cumberland; a grandson, Matthew Swallow and his wife Sonya of New Limerick; a granddaughter, Alison Swallow Pierce of Bangor; two step-grandsons, Lewis Woodard of Cumberland and Charles Wampler of Houlton; a great-grandson, Daniel Swallow of Presque Isle; a brother, Halden Swallow of Oakfield; a sister, Laura McLaughlin of Dyer Brook; five sisters-in-law, Marjorie Swallow of Oakfield, Priscilla Swallow of Houlton, Barb Staniszewski of Shelby Township, MI, Katherine Miller of Tacoma, WA, and Ann Anderson of Covington, WA; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visiting hours were at 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 29, at the Houlton United Methodist Church; funeral services were held at the church at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30, followed by the committal at Evergreen Cemetery in Houlton. Memorial donations in Mike’s name may be made to the Houlton United Methodist Church or the charity of one’s choice, care of Bowers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 579, Houlton, ME 04730. For online condolences please visit www.bowersfuneral.com.
