Travis Swinford

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Funeral Services at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home Chapel, Walters, OK, Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. with burial in the Walters Cemetery.

William Travis Swinford Jr. was born to William Travis “Buster” and Elizabeth (Brownlee) Swinford on November 15, 1937 in Walters, OK and departed this life in Yukon, OK on November 2, 2024 at the age of 86 years, 11 months and 18 days.

Travis grew up at Walters, OK, and graduated from Faxon High School in 1956. Early on he worked for area farmers, drove a taxi, and worked construction in Lawton before moving to the oilfields of Pampa, TX. He married Joan Bennett in 1959 and to the union 2 children, Danny and Dannett were born. He later married Vera Ruth Gunsalis in 1971 and to the union a son, William “Billy” was born.

At Pampa, TX, he began working for FWA with his “Uncle Cracker” and stayed 32 years with company, doing all aspects of oilfield work. During that time Travis had also bought a farm at Fay, OK, in 1982. He retired from FWA in 1992 and just farmed for a year before he was approached by EOG to join them as an oilfield consultant. He retired for good in 2001. 

Travis enjoyed watching westerns and reading western books like Louis L’Amour. He was a longtime member of the Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed watching football and was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and the Chiefs. He enjoyed eating a chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, and enjoyed whiskey and Diet Coke. He was an outdoorsman, and loved fishing his ponds, camping and boating at the lake, wearing his jeans while skiing and in later years wearing his boots with shorts at the lake. He also enjoyed many dogs through the years, such as Spud and TD, along with some simply named Dog.

Travis was preceded in death by his parents, Buster Swinford and Elizabeth Swinford Landrum; a sister, Minnie Ruth King; a son-in-law, Jerry Adams; and Travis' companion of 25 years, Lanear Phillips.

Survivors include 3 children, Danny Swinford and Davena of Woodward, OK, Dannett Adams of Washington, OK, William Swinford and Chastity of Yukon, OK; 2 sisters, Olga Gene Richards and Toby of Benton, AR, and Nancy King of Vine Grove, KY; a brother, George Swinford of Hammon, OK; 5 grandchildren, Matthew Paul Swinford and Jessica, Jeremy Clarence Adams and Johnna, Kaylie Elizabeth Swinford, Chesney Nicole Blanco and Ramon, and Alexa Brooke Swinford; 4 great grandchildren, Nicole, Aubrey, Chase and Skylar, plus one on the way, Oliver; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.