Marilyn Yvonne Swanson

Marilyn Yvonne Swanson, 76, of Amarillo, Randall County, Texas, passed away on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Memorial service will be at 12:00 {M, Saturday, September 27, 2025 at St. Johns Baptist Church, 2301 NW 14th Ave. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

She was born in Vancouver, Washington to Clarence and Thelma Barnet Harris.

One of seven siblings, she displayed her natural gift of love and care from an early age, helping raise her younger brothers and sisters.

In 1964, she met the love of her life, Don Swanson. They were married on June 14, 1969, in Portland, Oregon, and shared 56 Christ-centered years together. Their union was blessed with two children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, all of whom Marilyn cherished with her entire heart.

A graduate of Hudson Bay High School, Marilyn’s life was filled with creativity and service. She delighted in baking and decorating wedding cakes, designing beautiful interiors, and blessing others with her talents. She devoted herself to ministry—teaching God’s Word in women’s Bible study at Saint John Baptist Church, serving as a Deaconess in three different states, and volunteering with Hospice, the Food Pantry, and Family Support Services.

Marilyn was a wise, Godly, and loving woman whose faith touched everyone she met. The scripture that she exemplified in her life was I Corinthians, Chapter 13, Verses 4-8, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” She lived to spread the love of Jesus, and her legacy of compassion, devo􀆟on, and grace will continue to shine through her family and community. Her legacy simply stated is loving, wise, and Christ centered.

Marilyn is preceded in death by her father Clarence Harris, Sr., and brother, Robert Harris.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Don Swanson of Amarillo, Texas, daughter, Ivy Swanson, son, Donny Swanson (Keri) of Portland, Oregon, six grandchildren, Zeke Swanson, Aaliyah Swanson, Ezra Swanson of Amarillo, Texas, Jonah Swanson, Marley Swanson, Jude Swanson of Portland, Oregon, three grandchildren Ella Swanson, Zia Swanson, Braxton Swanson of Amarillo, Texas, mother, Thelma Harris of Vancouver, Washington, three brothers, Reverend Anthony Harris of Amarillo, Texas, Clarence Harris, Jr., of Vancouver, Washington, Terry Harris of Tacoma, Washington, two sisters, Arneta Harris of Portland, Oregon and Genie Harris of Vancouver, Washington, a host of other relatives and friends.