James Albert Stewart

James Albert Stewart, 70, of Cabot, Ark., passed away on July 28, 2010. He was born Aug. 14, 1939, in Stonewall, Okla., to James O. and Faye Shipley Stewart. Jim grew up in Artesia, N.M. He played football for the Artesia High School Bulldogs and enjoyed fishing, deer camp, arrowhead hunting and being with his childhood buddies and lifelong friends, Jimmy, Kim, Bill, Jigger and Bud. Jim received his BA degree in history from Eastern New Mexico University and his MS degree in business management from the University of Arkansas. He served his country as an Air Force officer for 20 years. He was an aircraft maintenance officer during Vietnam, served at the Pentagon and was Chief of Social Actions at Little Rock Air Force Base. Other duty stations included Japan and Germany. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked as a Financial Planner, Realtor and for the Arkansas Employment Security Department, retiring in 1999. In his later years, he enjoyed playing golf, gardening, cheering for his favorite sports teams, the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Dallas Cowboys, traveling and being with his family, especially his grandchildren, who called him "Grampy." Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles A. and Mildred Peterson Hanson. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Evelyn (Evie) Hanson Stewart; his daughters and sons-in-law, Leigh and Dan Leisle of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and Kelly and Troy Brazile of Little Rock; his precious grandchildren and the apples of his eye, Nicholas Leisle, Michael Leisle, Helen Brazile and Jack Brazile; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Eleanor Danard of West Palm Beach, Fla., Alan and Carol Hanson of Woodstock, Ga., and Bob and Sue Hanson of Spencer, Mass.; and many special nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 2, 2010, from 6-8 p.m. at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. A graveside service with military honors will be held Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, at 9 a.m. at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot. Following the graveside service, a memorial service celebrating Jim's life will be held at 10 a.m. at Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church in Cabot, with Reverend Jason Sutfin officiating. Memorials may be made to the Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church, 4100 Hwy. 89S, Cabot, Ark. 72023. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe, Ark. www.westbrookfuneralhome.com.