Melvin Barrie SWIM

Age 82 of Lockport, formerly of Clark's Harbour, Ellenwood and John's Island, passed away held in the arms of his wife and daughters on September 19, 2018 in Surf Lodge Nursing Home. Born on June 9, 1936, he was a son of the late Romie and Marguerite (Nickerson) Swim. Melvin is survived by his wife, Romayne Swim of Glenwood; daughters, Lucy Nickerson (Fred) of Beaverdam; Waitie Symonds (Michael) of Wood's Harbour and Twyla Amiro (Justin) of Wood's Harbour; step-son, Matthew Thompson (Bernice) of Massachusetts; stepdaughters, Cheryl Foley (Duncan) of New Hampshire and Lynn Fitzgerald (Dean) of Massachusetts; grandchildren, Farron (Jana), Owen, Jenna, Kaylin and Douglas; step grandchildren, Aidan, Maggie, Owen and Cam; great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Cecilia; sisters, Nettie Hopkins, Deloris Adams, Donna Varszegi, Betty Jean Cameron, Linda Lou Cunningham and Bonnie Nickerson; several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Melvin was predeceased by his brothers, Lynwood and Gerald Swim; sisters, Genevieve Swim and Margaret Rose Smith; brother in infancy. Leaving school at 15, he went to sea serving as an apprentice under his father until he was 21. At the age of 25 he bought his first boat and set out on his own. He started out on the West Side of John's, 40 plus years on Ellenwoods and closed out his career back on the West Side of John's. Melvin and his cousin Wendell were the first fisherman on the island to replace the wooden pot hauler with an iron head. He fished Five Hulls his last boat being the Southern Tip which was a Stanley Greenwood hull. He took up sailing later in life and raced in Argyle and Shelburne. Melvin had many 1st place trophies. His proudest win was the McNutts Island race, a Bermuda start he placed first crossing the finish line ahead of all the boats. Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 23rd, from 2-4 p.m. in H.M. Huskilson's Funeral Home, Barrington. Funeral service details to be announced on the funeral home website on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rosalin Nickerson Care Fund or any charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be sent to: [email protected] or you may sign the guest book at: www.huskilson.net