Swayne Coley, age 82, of Lexington, entered into eternal rest on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, surrounded by his family at his residence.
He was born Aug. 22, 1942, one of six children of the late Otha Lee Coley and Bert Gunter Coley.
Swayne was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Grover and Lennard, sisters Ruth and Bertie as well as his in-laws, Alvin and Doris Pitts.
Swayne served his country in the U.S. Navy.
For many years, he and his wife Brenda continued to own and operate the local Minit Serve Grocery and Liquor Store and Coley’s Arcade.
To know Swayne was a blessing and to be loved by Swayne was an honor.
In 1971, Swayne married the love of his life, Brenda Pitts Coley, spending 53 years together. He loved and adored his family. He found joy in the company of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
As passionate as Swayne was about his family, he also lived a full life engaged in a variety of hobbies. Swayne was an avid archer, having an article written about him and published. Swayne was quite the cowboy, training mules to pack him around the countryside and performance horses to compete in the cutting horse arena.
Additionally, on a more artistic note, Swayne hand carved beautiful wooden bowls with tools he hand forged.
Swayne is survived by his wife Brenda Pitts Coley, son Walter (wife Myra) of Stephens, son William (wife Teresa) of Shelby, North Carolina, son Kenneth of Lexington; nine grandchildren (Chance and wife Shiloh, Reid, Noah, Bill and wife Danielle, Chasie and husband Britton, Clancey and husband Aeden, Ledger and Zippy); eight great grandchildren (Jaycee, Wyatt, Roe, Remi, Zeke, Kaitlyn, Mason and Finley). Also surviving nieces and nephews.
Family will spend time together in memoriam following cremation.