Jane Mathews Swain

April 19, 1942 – Dec. 11, 2021

Jane Mathews Swain passed away peacefully at the South Peninsula on Dec. 11, 2021. Jane was born April 19, 1942, in Fairbanks, Alaska and raised in Anchorage. Her parents were Ruby Olson Mathews and Raymond Tom Mathews.

Jane was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She always had a kind word and cheerful thought to all who knew her. Jane was the genealogist of the family. She loved working with “the ancestors” and exploring their stories. Jane was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and enjoyed using their resources to explore the family tree.

She had a keen interest in boats and nautical history. She owned and operated Nautical Chart Services in Seward, Alaska. Jane worked many years as a bookkeeper and real estate agent until her retirement. She always enjoyed her activities with her sisters in Beta Sigma Phi, the many years she worked with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and served on the election board in Homer. Jane received an Associates Degree in Business from Kenai Peninsula College. Throughout the years, Jane raised several generations of children.

Jane was a third generation Alaskan. Her maternal grandfather (Charles Olson) had served on the Revenue Cutter Manning in Alaskan waters. Returning to Alaska in 1901, after his discharge from the service, he and his wife (Matilda) mined gold on Ganes Creek in the Innoko mining district.

Jane was married in Tijuana, Mexico to Warren Cavanaugh on Aug. 23, 1961. Warren Cavanaugh had also grown up in Anchorage. They had four children. They divorced in 1973.

Jane had a brief marriage to Michael Joy. In 1977 Jane met Richard W. Swain in Seward. They married in the fall of 1980. In 1986 they moved to Homer, Alaska where they continued to live.

Jane is survived by her son Randall S. Cavanaugh, sister Shirley A. Mathews, and great-grand daughter Tiannah Cavanaugh all of Anchorage, step-son Richard Warren Swain (Candy) of North Carolina and step-daughter Karen Swain of Georgia. Jane was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Richard, her children Cari, Shirley, and Gary Marc Cavanaugh, and grandson Tyler Cavanaugh.

The family is very grateful to Jane’s dear friends (Becky, Marianne, Roberta and Christina) in Homer, Alaska that assisted her during her many aliments. A memorial will be planned for a later date.