- Date Of Birth: March 5, 1928
- Date Of Death: February 20, 2012
- State: Arizona
Rafe Sweet Jr., March 5th, 1928 – February 20th, 2012, passed away at The Olivia White House in the loving company of his family. He was born in Fisher, Louisiana to parents Rafe Sweet Sr. and Geneva Sowell. He was a long-time Arizona resident since work at the lumber mill in McNary, AZ brought him here around 1951. He did print work in their Southwest Office.
Most people that knew and loved Rafe called him by his nickname “Pepper”. His lifetime was filled with work… at the age of seven, he began working to help support his family, much of which he did by shining shoes. Once he was old enough, he joined the United States Army, where he served as a demolition expert in the Korean War. The story of his time in the military is one of unusual triumph, as he was buried alive when an enemy mortar hit his foxhole. It was almost two days before he was rescued by his fellow G.I.’s. The damage to his body was extensive, which led the physicians in the medical sector of a Navy ship he spent almost two years on to say he’d never walk again.
Pepper proved them wrong, though…in true warrior spirit, he fought for his rehabilitation and went on to be a world-class dancer, and also played bongos and sang in a jazz quartet. He earned his retirement from the railroad, as well as the City Of Flagstaff (he was once recognized as the City Of Flagstaff Employee Of The Year), after which he returned to his earlier craft… shining shoes. He touched the lives of many people out at the Bellemont Truck Stop with his wisdom, sparkling personality, and skilled storytelling. For them, the “Shoe Shine Man” will be missed greatly.
Pepper was also one of the best BBQ men around, and those that ever had the pleasure of enjoying his work either at home or at Al’s Barbeque would eagerly agree. He was a sports enthusiast, as well as a man of diligent faith. He spent much of his “spare” time widening his knowledge of his connection to the Divine and reading his Bible.
He is survived by his brother Eugene Sweet, his fiance of 20 years Nora Daugherty, his lifetime friend and former wife Barbara Sweet, his son Rafe A. Sweet III, and three daughters…Kelly Sweet, Karen Carter Richards, and Constance Carter. Through them, he has a host of grandchildren, nieces and nephews far too extensive to list here.
~Rafe A. Sweet III
