Peggy Jean (McCarty) Swartz

Peggy Jean McCarty Swartz, 86, of Olympia, Kentucky passed away on August 3rd, 2022 at her home surrounded by her family. Peggy was born in Van Lear, Kentucky in Johnson County on January 12, 1936, to the late Harry Gordon McCarty and Pauline Bunting McCarty. She lived her early years on Silk Stocking Row in Van Lear – a street made famous by its reference in the Loretta Lynn book, “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, as her father was a coal mine safety inspector in Van Lear. She went to high school at Martin High where she graduated in 3 years and at the age of 17, enrolled at Morehead State College in 1953, where she was part of the cheerleading team and then met the love of her life, Dan Swartz of Bath County. They married while in college and traveled the country during Dan’s professional basketball career, while raising a family of 5 children. After Dan’s playing career, they moved their family to Olympia, KY in Bath County where she lived for the past 58 years. She worked for the Gateway District Health Department and retired after a 40-year career at the age of 80. Peggy loved to travel and visited several European countries, Caribbean Islands and other places around the world. She also loved sports like basketball, football, and golf, and was an avid UK Sports Fan and long-time UK Football season ticket holder. She loved spending time with and talking about her grandchildren. Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, Dan Swartz, her father and mother, Harry and Pauline McCarty, a sister, Wanda Elmer, and a brother, Gordon McCarty. She is survived by her children, Scott Swartz and Mike Swartz (Veda) of Olympia, KY; Tamie Cameron, Paris, KY; Mark Swartz (Colleen), Winchester, KY; Chris Swartz (Aleda), Lebanon, OH; and a sister, Delores Lafferty, Inez, KY. She has 13 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A private graveside service with family and friends will be held at the Stull Cemetery in Mudlick, KY on Tuesday, August 9th, 2022.

The family expands its deepest gratitude to Dr. Rachel Harper and the staff of Markey Cancer Center – Lexington Clinic and the St. Claire Hospice.

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