Leroy E. Metzger Sr., more commonly known by friends and family as “JR,” passed away peacefully at Scranton Regional Hospital on February 27th, 2021 at the young age of 51. He was born on October 22nd, 1969 in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and was a lifelong resident of the Carbondale/Gouldsboro area. JR truly lived his life to the fullest with no regrets. Always decorated in his leather vest and his trademark bandana, he was an avid motorcycle enthusiast, he loved spending time with family and friends, and loving his children unconditionally. JR is preceded in death by his grandparents, his mother Carol Szymanosky and his father Leroy Swartwood. He is lovingly remembered and survived by brothers John Metzger and Tim Swartwood, sister Monica Swartwood Suerken, his five children, Leroy Metzger Jr., Brandy Metzger, Ashley Metzger, Harley Metzger and Jason Metzger, and grandchildren Riley, Bella, Fernando, Luciana, Kylee, LJ, Lunabella and soon arriving granddaughter Oaklei (Harley) and grandson Michael (Jason), as well as several nieces and nephews. ***A Time for friends and family to gather and remember Leroy has be set for Saturday, May 15, 2021, from 10:00am – 12 noon, in the Corey Brian Strauch Funeral Home and Pennsylvania Cremation Services, 602 Birch Street, Scranton, PA 18505, masks required and social distance guidelines will be followed***
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Tina.M.Zellie
It’s such a sad loss,he’ll be missed by all who knew him.Love you buddy until we meet again R.I.P Jr💔💔
Emilio A. Goussen
My condolences, he is my Friend for over 30 years, I will miss him
Leroy Metzger
I love and miss you dadi. So sorry I got upset with you before u left I hope u can forgive me you have taught me so much especially how to take a hit …lol you always helped me when I was In need . Please watch over all of us.. you will always be in my heart rip old man ….
Nicole Cantarella
I am so taken back by this tragic loss .. JR seemed like he was not one to mess with when I first met him while working at my first bartending job at my ripe age of 21.. I could sense he was not one to bullshit anyone and he made me feel a little bit terrified when he had a couple beers in him because of how he would go from calm to invincibility in no time flat. As a man of his word mike JR always was I was the newest and barely legal bartender to join the family and I was worried that if someone disrespected any of the bartenders or any of our regulars or even said or did anything out of line then there would be hell to pay and JR would be the one accepting those payments. I even cut him off one night to prevent a situation from getting out of hand and he did not give me a hard time which I was very grateful for. He always treated me and the rest with such respect and he always had a positive attitude and smiled through his own bad days. We asked him to be our bouncer on busy nights and he was made sure noone ever felt uncomfortable or unsafe. If my empty beer bottles and recycling needed to go out JR wouldn’t let me walk them past the front door and he had taken them off my hands for me so I didn’t have to leave my bar unattended and walk in a dark alleyway late at night because it wasn’t a safe place for a young girl like me. He even made sure I got into my car after I locked up the bar and it was a routine for us after a while because I spent three good years probably my best years were during this time and little did I know then that I would end up dating his son almost 10 years later . Somehow I ended up becoming part of one big loving family ..we were a very family and noone disrespected anyone part of that family. A friend of the devil was a friend of mine that is how Morans Tavern in Carbondale PA always felt . Like home and if I knew the last time I saw Jr would have gone the way it had I would go back and take the damn selfie because that’s all he wanted and I was too worried about things that were not important. And Leroy, boy blue, your father loves you and he knew you loved him too. And I wish I could have been a better lover and a better companion to you and I wish I had spent more time with your father But deep down we still feel the love that will always be there and everything will all end up the way it is intended I do try to believe that is the truth m gone but never forgotten. Fly high , ride, and ‘scuse me while I kiss the sky .. 😭🎶🤍🖤
Tim Swartwood
Well he will deffentlly be missed. Life is way to short for any mistakes. Jr loved everything around him, and most of the time he didn’t mean no harm to anyone. I know he battled most of his life to get through it, and he did it.i know he is at peace rite now. Love and miss ya brother!! RIP, see u on the other side!!
Naomi & Greg
I’m so sorry for your loss, may you all find some kinda peace in this sad passing. He will be missed.♥️♥️♥️🦋
catherine smith
Praying for all of you 💕💕💕
Gib and Chris
So sorry for your loss .God be with the family he was always great and kind hearted will be missed god bless rest in peace Jr
Gail Folnsbee aka Cookie
You will be sadly missed
Fly High J.R Until we meet again my old friend
Valerie
Jr was there for me when a lot of people weren’t there. I looked up to him. He’s missed and very loved. It all happened too soon
Stacey
Jr you will be missed thanks for being my dads best friend when i was growing up keep over us and ur family
Anna Fisher
JR, you are definitely missed! Thank you for our wonderful son Jason, I know he’s one great accomplishment you and I have been blessed enough to call ours! You are free and at peace now, rest well until we meet again! All my love.
Chrissy kobetitsch
Jr more then anything i miss our talks our unconditional love ..forgiving …remembering..loveing n now leaving ..I know u loved me .and I know u know that I know u know that I freaking loved u so much to the moon n back infinity times over ..well here I go ..without u my soulmate my heart forever n always infinity and eternity..ill meet u on the other side watch for the rainbow babe love always chrissy
Jack lloyd
Wow I am so sorry for your loss My condolences i am just really shocked to hear this he was a good friend. Rest in peace JR
Dawn Eschbach
Sending my condolences to all his children and family ❤ J.R was a friend to many and will be greatly missed!! Fly with the Angels my friend
Pat
In the short time that I knew Jr I could tell that he was a very passionate man the way that he loved Chrissy and the kids and considered them his and that they also loved and respected him and considered him not only a soulmate with Chrissy as they have been in love ever since childhood and overcame many obstacles to be together as they had told me their story one evening when I was there but that the kids had such admiration love and respect for a man who had so much positive impact on their lives and he was kind and loving to them and never let any of the ugliness that he may have known earlier in life affect how he loved others and I admire that and respect it and I wish I would have known you longer nobody’s life is perfect and yes even self-admittedly he said he had his own inner battles he fought with himself I think he really tried to be a good man and I’m sure he will be missed not only by me but most certainly by those who loved him and depended on his guidance and reassurance that he would always be there for them if the chips were down through the good and the bad I am sorry that you had to leave this world much too early and I hope and pray that when you got to heaven the peace and love found there will keep you until you can be reunited one by one with all of those that you truly loved and I’m sure you’ll shine down look upon those you had to leave behind may peace be with you always Jr it was a pleasure to have known you
Georgina Rybitski
Jr you are one heck of a person that will truly be missed by the ones that know your caring and compassionate rough yet loving ways. You and chrisey will be with one another indefinitely. Neither of you could stay away too long so watch over that beautiful woman from the heaven your in ask God for peace , guidance and understanding for all your people waiting to see you again. I know you had some craziness to go through in this earthly life and I feel your time here was for good reason be their guide through this life maybe your heavenly ways will help them live happy healthy and successful as you have told me you wanted for them . Chrisey needs to feel that from you as she always did .God hold his hand to walk with you. Jr love you my friend.p3ace to the ones here waiting.
(PeeWee) Clarence Peters
There was a lot about you there was a whole lot people didn’t see and my guess is that the good kind of overshadowed the pain the disappointment how you held on the memories and most of which were those that just about everyone else whatever suppressor hide but I mean how can u see someone always smiling and assume there hurting that was you at first it was kind of irritating man why the hell is this man always like this man you always smiling the hell you got to be smiling for and then I seen it for myself for the first time and your smile is not for you it’s for everyone else almost like a contagious thing like a yawn no matter how angry how how much I want to give up trouble violence hell even substance abuse you will find yourself right where you need to be that’s another thing how you would just appear at the right moments but we all had our demons we all had our weaknesses God damned if you let that determine how you treat the next person I love that about you no judgment hell no words I remember trying to vent to you ventilator backbiting talking about whoever got me mad at that moment and you said look brother and I don’t want to be involved with all that you know I don’t want to drama I don’t want no problems that there used to make me mad too mad as hell put it all makes sense to your character (Quiet kept peaceful woke) to be honest with you ink conversations we had moments before this tragedy took place when you left them bars and you came and stayed with me I kind of resent my actions I feel it’s all that if I could have just kept my cool with you know who you’d be straight but that’s what happens when tragedy comes into lives ,would have could have ,should haves, coming in people’s lives ,if onlys, should have seen it, should have stopped it, biggest one I’m struggling with this I should have been there I should have been right the f*** there hell it’s hurting ,scarred you big naughty asses in my dreams how you’re the only reason they ain’t nightmares but I’m not going to carry on too much more cuz I know there’s loved ones that I read these and I know I’m a love one to you the rest of your family I’m a stranger so for respect and with respect I’m just going to let this go with I love you demand your wings and look out for all that you have been when you were down here continue that journey of being everybody’s guardian angel hold that gate for me I’ll see you whenever my cards pulled but until then and this I believe you always be alive down here with me always if I could speak for most they would say the same from the knowledge or things we’ve picked up along the ways of being with you this wisdom is fruitful wisdom taught me a lot of things man you help me grow and for that I will always be in your debt As well as you always being in my heart
Christina
Rest in peace Jr You were always kind and gentle ..The happiest I ever seen you when you were with Anna and when you had your son the smile you had holding him and the love you had for all your children Little Lee when you had him with you when he was a baby in Springbrook many years ago and the love you had for his sisters and brothers, could go on but we keep all those good memories and hold them close God be with all your family and friends rest in piece I send all my love and condolences
Your daughter Brandy
Hey dad I miss you🥺Bunches..😭
I know we haven’t spoken in a few years just because we lost touch.
It kills me that I didn’t even get too say I love ya one last time with your crazy ,silly self….I know your at piece now and I’m kinda jealous 😔the reason I say that is because things have been tough for me I feel like I lost everything,and everyone.
I don’t know how to act around people anymore it’s sad cause uk me I was always the light of the party😔😭well Surprise not anymore now I’m the Debbie downer smh social anxiety ,and my depression takes over me when I get around people..
Can you do me a favor??? Please help me with this I want to be the crazy brandy again not whom I become.
Dad you hear me ?I miss you and love you ..I guess I will let you be at peace for now but I will be back to talk if need to I hope that’s ok? You were always a good listener even if you couldn’t or didn’t know the right things to say .ok letting you go for now love you bunches please be my guardian angel 😇 and help me cope around people again
❤️👍