Long-time Cushing resident Stan Swisher was born October 3, 1938, in rural Noble County, NE of Perry, OK. He departed this earth Saturday, February 1, 2025, to meet his Savior.
Stan was the fifth of six boys born to Paul and Katie (Swatzky) Swisher during the Great Depression. Growing up as sharecroppers required all the boys to work from an early age. Stan and his brothers Gene, Neal, Wes, Burke, and Phil helped with raising a large garden, milking cows, and harvesting crops. This work ethic carried over to their adult years when they got good jobs to support their families, with no sense of entitlement. They maintained an appreciation for the simple things such as plenty of homegrown food, a roof overhead (which sometimes leaked during the Depression), and a warm stove (which they sometimes had to hug to thaw out).
The first few years of school required walking to a one-room country school for all eight grades. The curriculum was basic - reading, writing, math, and geography - administered with the necessary discipline.
Paul and Katie and their sons all believed in saving a portion of their income, giving to the church and to the less fortunate, and paying taxes to the government even if it wasn’t as frugal as they were raised to be.
After WWII started, Paul started work in the oilfields to develop fuel for the war effort. The family moved to rental farms in the Ripley- Cushing area. Stan attended schools in Ripley and Cushing, Oklahoma. He graduated from the eighth grade at Deep Rock school and graduated from Cushing High School in 1956. He was the first in his family to be privileged to attend college, and he graduated from OSU in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Stan married his high school sweetheart, Wanda Ward Swisher, on May 23, 1959, in Cushing. Four children were born to this union: Curtis, Brita, Patti, and Rod. Stan’s jobs took him and the family to various cities such as Houston, Sand Springs, Wynnewood, Stroud, Stillwater, and finally, back to his long-term goal - his farm N.E. of Cushing. Stan loved horses in his youth and raised cattle for about 50 years.
His love of family was foremost, and his life was shattered in 1996 when Wanda died from ovarian cancer. When he became a widower, he saw life from a new perspective and was determined to start helping those who had lost a spouse. Later, this led to Stan and his second wife, Linda, starting a church-based ministry helping widows and the fatherless. Linda was well suited to assist in this new ministry. After retiring from their full-time jobs, Stan and Linda continued their ministry to the lonely and hurting. Stan continued raising cattle and a garden each summer. He was a member of Lifeline Assembly in Cushing, OK.
Stan was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Katie Swisher, his brothers Gene Swisher and Neal Swisher, his first wife Wanda Ward Swisher, and sisters-in-law Betty Swisher, Carol Ward Swisher, and Annette Kimmel Swisher. He is survived by his wife Linda Swisher and his children Curtis Swisher (Giovanna), Brita Long (Paul), Patti Chisum (Dan), and Rod Swisher (Chandra), his grandchildren Kelly Chisum, Caitlin Swisher-Satterwhite (Buz), Jared Long, Collin Swisher, Derek Chisum, Katherine Mallard (Mason), great-granddaughters Merrady Murray and Kendra Kate Mallard, his brothers Wes Swisher (Ruthie), Burke Swisher (Jean), and Phil Swisher, numerous nieces and nephews, Linda’s children Michael Coday (Shelly), Dan Coday (Sarah), Merrie Coday Eldredge (Charles), and grandchildren Emelie Coday, Mikey Coday, Mollie Coday Martin (Dylan), Maddie Coday, Abigail Coday, Elizabeth Eldredge and Joshua Eldredge, and great granddaughter Eloise Martin.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Palmer Marler Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Euchee Valley Memorial Park in Cushing.
Stan’s favorite Bible verse: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 In lieu of flowers, we invite you to donate to The Journey Home (www.thejourneyhomeok.org).
