Former Sheridan resident Theodore Jay Swartz, 59, of East Wenatchee, Wash., died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2002, at his home after a 10-month battle with cancer.

He was born Jan. 24, 1943, in Gillette to Lee and Edythe Swartz. At age 2, he moved with his family to a dairy farm in Sheridan, where he attended high school and college.  He worked summers on local farms and ranches and also for the U.S. Forest Service.

He married Mary Katherine Schonberg in 1964.  He graduated from the University of Wyoming with a BS degree in agricultural engineering in 1967 and an MS degree in water resources in 1972.

Mr. Swartz worked for Allis Chalmers in West Allis, Wis., and the Gleaner Combine Plant in Independence, Mo.

He returned to the Forest Service as a civil engineer in 1972 and worked there ever since. He worked many years on the Medicine Bow National Forest in Laramie, the Black Hills National Forest in Spearfish, S.D., and the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest in Granby, Colo., before going to the Wenatchee National Forest in 1987. The Moses Lake Tanker Base was one of his most gratifying accomplishments.

He enjoyed hunting, snowmobiling, and boating in his younger years, but golfing was his ultimate love. He dedicated many hours to youth programs and was a mentor for hundreds of individuals.

A brother, Robert Swartz, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife and two children, Kurtis Swartz of East Wenatchee and Krista Moreshead of Billings; a brother, James Swartz, of Grand Junction, Colo.; and a grandchild.

Following a Saturday memorial in Washington, graveside services are 2 p.m. Monday in Sheridan Elks Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Sheridan Elks Lodge 520 Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 624, Sheridan, WY 82801, or to the Ted Swartz Memorial Golf Scholarship Fund at any Cashmere Valley Bank in Washington's Wenatchee Valley.