JOHNNY RILEY SWINNEY, 88, peacefully departed
this life on Dec. 5, 2025, surrounded by the love of
his family.
Born on Jan. 4, 1937 in Dallas, TX, Johnny was a
devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend
whose life was rich with purpose & joy. He attended
Ranger High School in the Class of 1956 at Ranger,
TX and was a member of the 1953 Ranger Bulldog State
Football Champs. He served honorably in the U.S.
Air Force from 1956 until 1960 instilling in him
a sense of duty and service.
Johnny married his beloved spouse, Betty Wells (RHS-
1956), in Sept. of 1995 at Ranger, where they enjoyed
a life filled with laughter, love, and shared passions.
A proud member of the Chickasaw Indian Nations of Ada,
OK, Johnny's heritage was always close to his heart.
He was an member of the Eastside Baptist Church and
dedicated himself to coaching Pee Wee Football for 22
years, along with mentoring in men's baseball & girls'
softball, leaving a lasting impact on the youth in his
community.
Johnny also served with pride as a member of the Optimist
Club and the Union Auto Workers, dedicating many years
of his professional life to General Motors. In addition
to his automotive career, he was a passionate cattle
rancher, cherishing the time spent working the land
alongside Betty, relishing the companionship of their
cattle and horses.
He found immense joy in his role as a loving father,
grandfather, and great-grandfather, treasuring the
moments spent with his family. He is survived by
his devoted wife, Betty Swinney, and his adored
daughters, Jayne Lewallen, and her husband, Mickey,
along Janet Swinney and Belinda Hitchcock, a son,
Richard Blaine Fletcher, as well as a brother, Daryl
Swinney (RHS-1966), and a sister, Diane Swinney.
Johnny was blessed with seven grandchildren-Brandi,
Maeghen, Justin, Kayli, Alysha, Miranda, Bailey and
13 great-grandchildren, each of whom brought special
joy to his life.
Johnny is preceded in death by his loving parents,
John and Joyce Swinney, his cherished son, Jody
Wayne Swinney, and his siblings, James Clayton
Swinney (RHS-1959) and Janice Joy Swinney.
SON: JODY WAYNE SWINNEY, 52, of Big Spring,
TX, died July 17, 2015 in a motor vehicle accident.
He was born in Ranger, TX on June 5, 1963 to Johnny
Swinney & Jayme Barker. Jody graduated from Sam Houston
High School in 1981 where he excelled in soccer and
tennis. He married Teri Marie Orr in March of 1993.
Jody loved football, horses, working with kids and
mostly his family. He was a member of the Chickasaw
Nation and was proud of his Indian heritage. A favorite
activity was attending his daughter's high school
football games and cheering enthusiastically from
the stands. His daughters say he loved Reese's candy
and teasing them. A devoted father and husband, most
of the family photos he's behind the camera capturing
thousands of memorable moments. Jody was an active
member of Trinity Baptist Church.
Jody & Teri moved to Big Spring in 1999 after living
and working in Fort Worth, TX and Taos, NM. They were
the owners/operators of the Big Spring Sears Dealer
Store for over 11 years. He was most recently a Claim
Service Analyst for Allstate Insurance Company.
He was survived by his wife Teri, daughters Alysha,
19, Miranda, 17 and Bailey 16; mother Jayme Barker of
Grandbury, TX; father and step-mother Johnny & Betty
Swinney of Ranger; sisters Janet Swinney of Big Spring,
TX and Jayne Swinney of Grandbury, TX; Many nieces and
nephews as well as his "little brother" James Parsons
of Fort Worth, TX.