Roger Edwin Swalley, a longtime Colfax area resident, passed away March 11, 2016 in Colfax. He was 70. Roger was born September 28, 1945 in Lewiston, Idaho to Carl and Erma (Bonham) Swalley. His father was a merchant marine so the family moved many times while Roger was growing up. They lived in California briefly and then moved to St. Maries, Idaho where Roger graduated from high school in 1963. He attended the University of Idaho before enlisting in the Army Air Force. He trained in California and Georgia before his deployment to Korea where he worked rigging huge parachutes for large equipment drops. Upon being honorably discharged he returned to the Palouse and the University of Idaho where he studied plant sciences. He met Susan Kay Brooks while there and the couple married December 27, 1966 in Payette, Idaho. Roger loved the woods and spent as much time in them as he could. They lived in rural Moscow until an accident forced them to move closer to town in 1973. They moved again in 1975 when a piece of land owned by his grandparents along the Snake River drew them to it. There Roger built his "dream home" with his own hands. It truly was a labor of love as he spent many years perfecting it. He loved to work on the land, especially cutting fire wood. He was known as a bit of an "eccentric" and was at home more with nature than in town. Sue said "they enjoyed the lifestyle of hermits". Roger worked for several years as a mail contractor and later he did some work on the river as a wildlife habitat contractor. He kept busy taking care of their land and of some rental properties they owned in Clarkston. He nurtured his land by planting many trees and taking care of them. He also tended 5 acres of boysenberries and over the years had picked thousands of berries for area markets. He loved hunting and fishing and was real passionate about skydiving. He also enjoyed watching TV and was an avid reader. Roger is survived by his wife, Sue, at their home; 2 sons, Kenneth & Karlene Swalley of Ferndale, WA. and Douglas & Michele Swalley of Colfax; 3 grandchildren, Kaela, Schyler, and Ryker and by his sister, Twila Skye VanHee of Yakima, WA. He was preceded in death by his parents. No services are planned at this time.