Obituary of Dale Bradley Swanton

Dale Bradley Swanton was an affectionate son, passionate husband, amazing father, a grand uncle, and faithful friend. He was born on March 21, 1967 in Victoria, B.C. to Don and Darlene Swanton. His father said that he was a quiet, nice and beautiful baby boy. The Dale whom we all knew and loved came to live in Chetwynd as an energetic 4-year-old in October of 1971. The family arrived during a massive snow storm. School years were a time of adventure to him. His teachers had a hard time telling him no. He had a winning smile and big brown eyes - a deadly combination. Dale could also talk the stars out of the sky. He enjoyed hockey from about 7 - 12 years old. He then turned his attention to being an equipment operator. When he was 12, Don and Darlene came home to find a giant hole in their garden spot. Dale decided to build his own swimming pool. He figured that the backhoe should always be in use. He often said he should have taped the plastic liner together before adding water, there might have been less of a mudhole in the yard. Dale graduated from Chetwynd Secondary School and promptly went to work. Dale was well known in the community as he worked with his mom and dad at the family Carwash. He had many lifelong friends made through the business. Sometimes it seemed that they knew every truck driver, logger, housewife and teenager in town. Don and Dale made quite a team, but they always had to listen to mom - she was the boss. Most people couldn't work together for years like they did, but they as a family worked towards their goal. Dale was usually found near the community coffee pot. This, by the way, is where Shannon found him. The cookie bandit then set out to charm her. Shannon was wise to Dale's ways, but she never complained as she now got a share of those cookies he could talk everyone out of. Dale and Shannon became one on July 19, 1997, wed at the Chetwynd Pentecostal Church. Dale, his mother Darlene, and sister Kimmy up to this point had joined forces and were raising Darcy, Dale's first son. Dale and Shannon made a home together and Grandma and Kimmy handed over the responsibility of these two Swanton men to Shannon. Soon they added Casey and Riley to the mix. To Dale family was his top priority. Many fishing trips, quad rides, chicken hunting and water fights ensued. Music is everywhere in their home, Dale loved to listen and was known to instigate a jam session. Being a dad was Dale's greatest joy. He watched his boys grow into fine young men. Dale took his job of being Dad very seriously. He was soft spoken but he got his point across when needed. He was a God-fearing man, considerate and always loving. He was what most men aspire to be. Willow Creek expanded Dale's family more; new friends and more people to make cookies. Dale started as an equipment operator, feeding the Grizzly with a backhoe. This was long before the plant at Willow even existed. Eventually Dale became the plant foreman at Walter Energy - Western Coal. Dale now had a whole new batch of boys. Dale always pitched in, whatever the job - his attitude was "Let's go boys, times a wasting." Dale loved working at the mine. We could never get him out of coveralls and gum rubber boots. Dale walked into the sun on Jan 28th of this year and his wife noticed a yellow tinge to his skin. A horrible truth began to unfold; Dale had pancreatic cancer. Dr. Bond had the foresight to skip the middlemen and we were granted time which we would not have had otherwise with Dale. He spent his summer at Heart Lake with friends and family. Dale was with us and we felt blessed. His children were ever on his mind. What do they need to know? What do I have to teach them? The slow realization that he would be unable to pack a lifetime of knowledge into the time he had left, this was by far the worst thing that he had to face. Dale was and always will be present in his sons. You can see the kind of men they will become in the future. You can see Dale's strength in boys as they walked this path with him. They are the rocks that helped support their parents during this time. The Plan . . . When all things are said and done, the truth of it is that Dale gave all of it over to God. The plan became a common sentiment in Dale's home, and to those closest to him. The people who needed to arrive had arrived, the things that needed to happen did. Most of all the peace and joy that was needed in their home returned. Dale's acceptance of what was happening to him was an astounding thing to witness. The trust Dale had in the plan and how the Lord was leading the way could only be understood by someone watching it unfold. Giving others a profound sense of wonder as to where his inner strength came from. His wife knew all along that his little light was shining and that the footprints in the sand was God carrying Dale through the last legs of his earthly journey. We are not meant to understand the path God sets us on or where it will take us, only that we are to walk in faith, not fear. Dale's quiet strength helped us all to cope. He remained a pillar of hope, he faced each challenge with dignity and peace. Dale was beloved by many and we are poorer for having him gone. Dale was loved so much by so many. An exceptional man is no longer with us. He has taken a part of us with him and it can't be replaced and won't be forgotten. Dale's life is an example of the idea that how you live your life matters. His death, a reminder of the fact that no one knows how long we have here. Dale has left a treasure of himself behind: in each of us he left his own mark. Whether it be his wonderful smile or words of wisdom, or his sweet goofy nature, we have all been touched by his truly warm and loving attitude. We will all miss you. Dale passed away on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 in Chetwynd at the age of 49 years. A funeral service was held on Monday, December 5, at 1:00 pm at the Chetwynd Fellowship Baptist Church, Pastor George Rowe officiated, interment followed in the Tuscoola Mountain Cemetery. For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Dale to the Chetwynd & District Hospital Foundation Long Term Care Box 121 Chetwynd, B.C. V1G 2C6 Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home and Crematorium Funeral Service 1:00 pm Monday, December 5, 2016 Chetwynd Fellowship Baptist Church 4817 53 St Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada