Larry R. Swearingen III

AIKEN - Mr. Larry R. “Lars” Swearingen III, 42, beloved husband of Jessica Swearingen, passed away Saturday, August 10, 2019. A memorial service will be held 6:00 PM Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at Heights Church, 4631 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Beech Island, SC 29842 with Pastor Mark Canipe officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. In keeping with what Larry would have wanted, please dress casual for the memorial service Born in Augusta, GA, Larry was a son of Larry R. (Karen L.) Swearingen, Jr. and the late Grace E. Hickey Swearingen. Larry was the kind of rare soul that believed in defense of all life. He would rather take a spider outside and let it live than to take its life. Larry was most proud of his military career that started in 1997 when he joined the US Army. It was in just a short time that he earned the right to join the 101st Airborne Division. Larry left the military in 2001. Trying to settle into civilian life, he decided to use his talent as a comic artist. In 2010 he founded Phoenix Fire Inc., later Phoenix Fire Entertainment. It was at this time that he met his soul-mate, Jess. The two were married in June of 2011 and soon after they were blessed with the birth of their daughter and Larry’s “Pride and Joy”, Savannah. In 2012, Larry traded in his artist fedora for his old Airborne cap when the three of them founded L.E.A.S.H Squad, a local animal rescue. His first official rescue; a turtle trying to cross a busy road. In 2013, the Swearingen’s closed their rescue. Larry had been in constant pain, having only recently discovered over 2000 pages of medical files that had been mishandled by the local VA hospitals since his military career. He was waiting to receive his military disability when his life was tragically cut short by a cowardly act of violence. He had a great purpose in defending life and was the type of brother that would give his life for yours. In addition to his wife and father, Larry is survived by his daughter, Savannah Grace Swearingen; two brothers, William J. Swearingen, Robert A. Swearingen; a stepsister, Terasa Reilly; two stepbrothers, John Reilly, Kevin Reilly and two lifelong friends like were considered brothers, Clayton Neal and Kevin Mabli. He was preceded in death by his mother, Grace E. Hickey Swearingen and a brother, Christopher A. Swearingen. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family of Larry Swearingen, https://www.gofundme.com/f/veteranfamilycrisis, or to Jessica Swearingen, C/O Heights Church, 4631 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Beech Island, SC 29842 https://heightschurchsc.com/give/. SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC 29801. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Larry R. Swearingen III, please visit our flower store.