Every time he visited his wife's grave, he would sit on the bench he had placed there and ring the chimes next to it. Today the chimes are ringing for both.

Earl Lee McSwain passed away March 15, 2014 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was born August 14, 1933, the long-awaited first son of Lee and Ethel McSwain. He spent his first years in the Old Salem community, attending school at Camp Worth and later in Center. After he lost his father at a young age, he helped his mother operate McSwain's Grocery and raised chickens. He was drafted into the Army, spending most of his tour of duty in Germany. A believer in the Lord, he was a member of Old Salem Missionary Baptist Church. After working in plant farms, he decided to start his own business. He and his wife Evelia operated Earl's Nursery on Hwy 7 West for several decades, providing customers with flowers, shrubs, and vegetables for planting. He loved to tell stories and was quite good at it. Most of his tales were of his escapades as a young man and a soldier. Everyone in the family remembers the fall off the chicken house into the bull nettles, passing out while reading a gory western, the fight with the dog and the prized green Mustang. He was proud of his Scottish roots and thoroughly enjoyed a trip to Scotland with his brother Bob. Earl had a soft spot for animals, especially their poodle Dolly Parten and their cat Doofus. Faithful to the tenets of AA, he spent years helping others do the same. He was very proud of his granddaughters and loved the attention they gave him. He was close to all his family and was "Bubba" and "Unk" to all.

He is survived by granddaughters, Betty Jo McCabe of Wylie, Dawna Jo Majcher and husband Ryan of Ft. Worth and great-grandchildren Evie Gillis and Bronson McCabe. He is survived by four siblings, Janie Johnson of Cleveland, Maxine Jernigan and Christene Mahan of Center, Bob McSwain and wife Connie of Irving and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Evelia, his sister Luna Waller and his stepson Bobby Jo Inman.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at Watson and Sons Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at Watson and Sons with burial following at Old Salem Cemetery. Officiating will be his nephews, Bro. Eddie Lee Mahan and Bro. Buddy Johnson. Music will be by his cousin, Bro. Aubie McSwain, and neighbor Alice West.

Pallbearers will be nephews Sammy Mahan, Robert McSwain, Royce Lynn Johnson, Lynn Johnson, Gary Anderson and Ben Johnson. Honorary pallbearers are Doyle Luman, J. C. McSwain, Jerry Mahan, Glynn McSwain, Oren Warr, Maurice Langford, Wayne Bittick, John Winder and Royce Lawson.