Orin Swearingen Jr.

Orin "Shorty" Swearingen Jr., 62, of Williams died April 23, 2009, at Three Rivers Community Hospital. Private family services will be held. He was born Jan. 16, 1947, in Weed, Calif., to Orin and Doris Swearingen. He attended elementary and high school in Weed. In 1968, he moved to Grants Pass from Weed, and he worked as a long haul truck driver for more than 25 years. He enjoyed Indian bead work and jewelry making, gold mining, fishing, hunting, and studying his Karuk Indian heritage. Survivors include a son, Orin Swearingen III of Grants Pass; a daughter, Melinda Laakkeon of Wisconsin; his mother, Doris Doughty of Weed, Calif.; his stepfather, Robert Doughty of Williams; a sister, Gail Breshears of Weed; two brothers, Larry Swearingen of Pacific, Wash., and Robert Bedsworth of Mesa, Ariz.; and seven grandchildren.