James Shay Stear Swinford, 20 years old, a resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died July 12, 2014 at Froedert Hospital. Shay was born February 9, 1994 in Seattle, Washington to Peter Swinford and Amy Stear. They later moved to Portland, Oregon and then to Milwaukee. Shay had loving relationships with both his mother and father's families in West Virginia, Indiana, and Kansas. In Milwaukee he attended various public schools. He was a graduate of MPS and had just completed his first year at Milwaukee Area Technical College where he was earning an associate's degree in culinary arts. Shay's love of cooking began at an early age, and he and his mother often cooked together. Shay shared his father's passion for music and spent hours with his friends creating unique beats at his home in Milwaukee. Shay also loved playing pick-up basketball games and wearing a cool pair of tennis shoes. At family gatherings with his mother's family, he was referred to as "the gentle giant." He is survived by both parents, Peter A. Swinford (Crista) and Amy Lou Stear, a sister, Lucy Stear Swinford, his maternal grandmother, Mary W. Stear, an aunt, Linda (Kent) Runyan, uncles Joe (Danielle), Tom (Brittany) Swinford, Ben Swinford, cousins Keith Runyan, Jaime Peterson, Scott Runyan, Sierra Swinford, Skylar Swinford, Nicole Jump, Magen Swinford, and Thomas Swinford, as well as many extended cousins. He had many close friends including Rachel Crites and Marquis Brown. Shay was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, James W. Stear, and his paternal grandparents, Philip and Jackie Swinford. Shay's legacy will live on with the donation of his organs; he allowed seven other lives to be positively affected. A private memorial service for family will be held at a later date.