By John Bowling

olores and Sherdean Swift grew up in the Los Angeles area.  He graduated from a Catholic high school and she graduated from Washington High School.  Both joined a Catholic singles group where they met.

Shortly after, they married.  They are now celebrating their 48th anniversary.

Dolores attended community college where she studied early childhood education and fashion. During their years together they raised two daughters, and now have four grandchildren. Dolores worked with Girl Scouts and the 4H during her daughter’s involvement. As a boy, Sherdean joined the Boy Scouts and after five years earned the coveted Eagle Scout Award.  In later years, he served as an assistant scoutmaster and scoutmaster.  He also served as both a district and area commissioner.

Sherdean spent thirty years with the California Department of Forestry, and was able to live for most of those years at his current address in Jackson.  Also, during the past 34 years, he spent teaching California hunter safety.  He also was a certified rifle, pistol and shotgun instructor.

Since retirement Sherdean and Dolores have been involved with many organizations and activities in the community. He and Dolores have been chefs for the Fire and Police Retirement (FAPERS for short) group for the past thirteen years, and he also ran the raffles for the Sons in Retirement (SIRs) for the past seven years. Working with the Amador Computer Users Group, Sherdean helped restore used computers for people financially unable to purchase one.  He also assisted the Amador County Arts Council with their finances for several years.

The Amador County Council, Knights of Columbus appointed Sherdean as one of its two representatives to the Silver Lake Chapel Committee last year, where he and Dolores have been chefs for the Council’s Installation Mass and Picnic in August.

Sherdean has been active in St. Patrick Church as a lector for the past five years.  Dolores assisted in the Martha’s Ministries, helping to provide meals, housecleaning, and other necessities for parishioners who are ill.  She also assists the Council in calling on Brothers and their families who are ill, keeping the Amador Knights prayer list up to date.  She also is responsible for sending out prayer cards to those Knights who are seriously ill or whose family members have passed away. Dolores did spend one of her years teaching the youth of the parish and spent three years working with the parish teen group.

As very active members in the community, parish, and Council, they are truly deserving of the recognition of the 2011 Amador County Council Knights of Columbus Family of the Year.