Connie Kay Swearingen, a long time Austinite and renowned chef, passed away on July 5, 2022 at the age of 66. Connie was the daughter of the late Alan and Jo Ann Swearingen. Connie, born November 10, 1955 in Herrin, Illinois, found her way to Austin and then never left.

Please join us for a celebration of Connie's life at the South Austin Community Garden (SACG), Saturday November 8, 2025, 10 am to 12 noon as we dedicate a memorial bench in her honor. The memorial bench has recently been delivered to the SACG site. The gardening community invites everyone who wants to participate in her celebration of life to join us as we dedicate the bench.

The garden is located on South 5th Street just south of Cumberland and just south of the Denizen Condo Complex at 2800 South 5th.

Connie was a valuable member for over 25 years where she served on various coordinator positions and contributed delicious dishes to share at the monthly potluck events. She continued gardening to the very last days of her life.

After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Nutrition, Connie started her career in the culinary industry. She worked for the State of Texas for many years, first serving as the Executive Chef in the Lieutenant Governor's Reception room at the Texas State Capitol. In 2003, then Governor Rick Perry and his wife Anita hired her to become Executive Chef at the Texas Governor's Mansion. Connie remained in that position as the Executive Chef for the Texas Governors Rick Perry and Gregg Abbot until her retirement in 2019.

Connie loved everything outdoors. Her favorite days were spent at the South Austin Community Garden growing delicious veggies that she cooked to perfection. Connie treasured her ticket stub collection from the numerous live music performances she attended from Prince to the Allman Brothers to Asleep at the Wheel, even meeting her future husband at the iconic Armadillo World Headquarters. She was passionate about the environment and would give you "a piece of her mind" if you even mentioned using pesticides or refusing to recycle everything possible. She loved traveling the world with friends. Connie is survived by her husband, Stuart Wagner, and numerous relatives throughout the country. For further information contact southatxgarden@gmail.com.