Ardena Ann Swayne

Ardena “Dee” Swayne, beloved mom, grandma, sister, aunt, friend, and Physician Assistant passed away on November 30, 2022, in Colorado Springs. Dee was born on May 17, 1959 to Dale and Anna Swayne at the US Army Hospital Neubruecke near Idar-Oberstein, Germany where Dale was stationed at the US Army base. The Swaynes moved to Colorado Springs where Dale was stationed at Ft. Carson before Dee’s first birthday.

Colorado Springs was home for most of her life. Dee was the middle child between her much older brother Lou and her younger sister Jeanette. Growing up, it was mostly just the two girls in the house since Lou joined the Army and went to Vietnam when she was only seven years old. Dee graduated from Harrison High School in 1977. She got her first job in the medical field working at the Penrose Hospital lab. Life took her to Maryland and Arizona for a couple of years as well. Upon returning to Colorado Springs in 1981, she worked at Jack-In-The-Box for several years until she realized there was much more to do with her life.

In 1983, Dee was blessed with the birth of her son Christopher. Being a single mom, life was not easy which was a lesson she never forgot. It would also fuel her passion to help other single moms in the years to come. Wanting a better life, Dee focused on a medical career. Living at Family Life Services allowed her to complete her four-year degree with honors and become a proud graduate of Pikes Peak Community College. Acceptance to PA school at Western Michigan University was next, but it required taking one year off to establish residency in the state by living in Traverse City.

Dee attended Western Michigan in Kalamazoo where she graduated in 1994. The strenuous requirements of the program and traveling residency meant Chris would live with Aunt Jeanette and Uncle Allyn in Colorado Springs during this time. She arranged for her final residency rotation to be with Dr. Zimmerman in Colorado Springs. Dee received her Colorado Physician Assistance license in April 1995.

Through the following years, Dee continued working in family practice with Dr. John Kurish, and ultimately with Dr. Brad Reedy where she so enjoyed working with him, staff like Kristin and Marcia, and helping her patients. Her desire to help young women and single moms also meant clinic work the El Paso County Health Department. Her last medical position was volunteering and working at Ascending to Health where she retired in early 2020.

Dee and Chris were fortunate to travel to Germany to visit her birthplace in 2004. Accompanied by her brother Lou and family, Dee was able to meet her German side of the family including an aunt, uncle, and cousins for the first time in her life. Dee was proud of her German heritage and memories of this trip were always close to her heart.

In 2008, Dee was blessed with a daughter when Chris married Heather. Perhaps it was because Heather would bless Dee with her grandkids, but no matter the reason, Heather held a very esteemed and special place in Dee’s heart. This was followed very closely by her love for Rowan and Elizabeth (“Ella”). She would spend as much time as possible playing with them and watching them grow. Holidays always provided time shared with the extended Brown family including her other grandkids Titus and Sarai.

Clearly Dee’s life was spent devoted to her son Chris, family, friends, and especially her cherished patients. Dee was so proud of her entire extended family but especially brother Lou. Everyone Dee met would know sooner or later that Lou was a bonified “rocket scientist” who spent his entire career working in the space shuttle program from start to finish. She was also incredibly proud of Lou’s army career and receiving both a purple heart and bronze star. She joined and volunteered with the Monument VFW post in honor of both Lou and her father’s service to our country.

Dee’s biggest defining characteristic was her faith in God and Jesus which led her to many adventures in volunteering, advocating, and generally helping others. In 2002, Dee received Family Life Services “Mom of Honor” award. She volunteered countless hours at Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel – working in their bookstore and volunteering in the café. This involvement provided the opportunity to gain lifelong friends like Lorna and Mark Bennett, Ginger Gallo, and many others like Linda Munson who started her on her Christian walk. These friends became extended family and meant so much to her in her daily life and walk with Christ.

In 2009 Dee was able to go on a Calvary Chapel sponsored mission’s trip to Uganda where she aided the work in a small village by carrying stones. This trip also afforded her the opportunity to meet her sponsored Compassion child. In later years, Dee also was an active volunteer at New Life Church.

With the little time that she wasn’t working, volunteering, or spending time with loved ones, you could often find Dee in the kitchen cooking or baking. As another stress relief, Dee did cross-stitch throughout life creating beautiful pieces some displayed to this day. Dee also loved being as presentable as possible and creating new outfits accented with pieces from her extensive and treasured jewelry collection. It was common to see Dee with coffee or tea in hand no matter the time of day which helped her to remain energized to read a wide variety of books but especially study the Bible in both the early morning and at bedtime.

Dee is survived by her son Chris (Heather) Swayne; grandchildren Rowan and Elizabeth Swayne, brother Louis (Terry) Swayne along with nephews Jonathan, Steven and Douglas, sister Jeanette (Allyn) Brown along with nephew Scott (Yvonne) and their children Titus and Sarai, and her favorite and only niece Emily.

We thank God for His mercy in calling Dee home quickly. One of Dee’s favorite Bible verses that defined her is from Song of Solomon 6:3: “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” While she will be missed, we rejoice because we know she is born anew with Jesus in heaven.

There will be a memorial service at the Swan Law Funeral Home 501 N Cascade Ave. with coffee and dessert to follow on January 3, 2022 at 10:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dee’s honor to Family Life Services (Colorado Springs) or the Alzheimer’s Association.