James H. Stewart
James H. Stewart, 90, of Ryan Oklahoma passed from this life on August 18, 2017. Jim was born in Borger, Texas on June 18, 1927 to Frances and Edgar Stewart. Jim's father was working for Gulf Oil Co. at the time. They later moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico, also for Gulf. Jim loved New Mexico, he said he had more fun growing up there than anywhere. In later years Jim and Lolly often went to New Mexico for a few days' vacation - they took their only grandson James Brady with them several times - their granddaughter Katie got her turn to New Mexico also. By the time their only other grandchild, Tessa, was old enough to go, they decided it was too far for them to go - Sorry Tessa. Then, sometime when Jim was in grade school the family moved back to Lexington, Oklahoma, to the family farm. The farm had been acquired by Jim's grandfather, whose name was also James Stewart, in the land run of 1889. "Eighty-niner Day" was a big day for the Stewart family. They told us they could trace their ancestry back to "Mary, Queen of Scots." The family was very proud of being of Scottish descent - and of being Okies! And of being Americans, of course! Jim's father fought in World War I. Upon graduation from Lexington High School in 1945, Jim joined the Navy and he fought in World War II.
When the war was over, Jim was discharged from the Navy. He entered Oklahoma A&M College, which is now Oklahoma State University. He received a degree in animal science. The GI Bill of Rights, which was given to veterans, paid for his college education. Education was always a high priority for his children. His three sons are also OSU graduates - as well as two of his grandchildren, Brady and Tessa. Katie is a graduate of Central State University. Upon graduation from college, Jim came to Ryan and taught agriculture to the returning veterans. It was in Ryan that he met his future wife, Lolly Burnett. They were married in 1954 at the Ryan Methodist Church. By that time Jim was working for an oil company of Duncan. He then got a job for Phillips Petroleum Co. and moved to Pauls Valley, where his oldest son James Danon was born. Jim was transferred to Abbeville, Louisiana and worked on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico. While working for Phillips he also did a tour of duty in Alaska.
In 1957, Jim went to work for International Drilling Co. and worked in Kuwait in the Persian Gulf. His son Patrick was born in the American Mission Hospital in Kuwait. For about six months the company sent the family to Iran, an interesting country to live in, then back to Kuwait for a while. In 1962, Jim left the oil field and the family came to Ryan to live where son Kelly was born. And where all three sons graduated from Ryan High School, as their mother had done, and their grandfather Bruce Burnett has done also.
Jim's plan to make a living permanently was to raise cattle - and that is what he did. The sons always helped on the ranch. Upon graduation from college Kelly came home to help with the cattle and also worked for the Wichita Falls Fire Department for twenty-two years.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Judy, and his brother Bill.
His survivors include: his wife Lolly, of the home; his brothers Kenneth and his wife Sue of Chickasha, OK, and Ed and his wife Mary Lou of Lafayette, LA; sons Jimmy and his wife Martha of Wichita Falls, TX, Patrick and his wife Theresa of Edmond, OK, and Kelly of the home; grandchildren James Brady and his wife Nicole of Ft Collins, CO, Katlyn and her husband Phillip Manning of Seattle, WA, and Tessa and her husband Justin Hixon of Oklahoma City, OK; brother-in-law Bruce Burnett and his wife Patsy of Midlothian, TX; and many nieces and nephews he cared about.
Jim became a member of the Baptist Church in Lexington at an early age. He was a member of the American Legion in Ryan, a long-time member of the Ryan School Board and served on the Jefferson County Soil Conservation Board for a long time.
There will be a memorial service for Jim at 11:00 AM, Saturday, September 9, 2017, at the Ryan Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial love offerings may be made to the Ryan Methodist Church.