Arthur Lee Stewart

Arthur Lee Stewart, Sr., 93, of Arthur Stewart Dr., Morganton, NC passed away Saturday, January 14, 2006, at Burke Hospice & Palliative Care Center, Valdese, NC. Born October 17, 1912 in Gaston County, NC, he was a son of the late James S. and Lilly Barker Stewart. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Thelma Capps Stewart and his second wife, Monnie Waters Brackett Stewart; also his son, David Allen Stewart and his brother, Nally C. Stewart.

Mr. Stewart was retired from the N. C. School for the Deaf, Morganton having worked in the Maintenance Dept. He was a master carpenter and a member of Local Union # 312, Lexington, NC. He was a member of the "greater generation" who contributed greatly to the war effort of WWII. Although he did not serve in the military, he worked on U. S. Navy Construction Projects in Baltimore, MD and Norfolk, VA, and he was working at Oak Ridge, TN when the war ended in 1945. He never talked about his experiences in Tennessee other than to say many times "what we did there, saw there, stayed there." He was a long-time member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. In his earlier years he served in many positions in his church including Chairman of the Building and Grounds, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and always serving his Lord.

He is survived by a daughter, Theola Stewart Hall and her husband, Bobby Lee Hall of Morganton; sons, James Kenneth Stewart and his wife, Edna, of Savannah, GA, Jerry Doyle Stewart, Lee Stewart, Jr. and his wife, Barbara, all of Morganton NC; a daughter-in-law, Carol Stewart, of Fayetteville, NC; brothers, Raleigh L. Stewart, Henry V. Stewart, and Wayne Stewart all of Morganton, and William "Bill" Stewart of Sevierville, TN; step-children, Mitchell Brackett and wife, Kathryn, of Morganton, and Carol Brackett Bottoms and husband, Larry, of Casar, NC; also grandchildren, Dwayne Stewart of Hickory, Jeffrey Stewart of San Diego, CA, Mark Stewart and wife, Kimberly, of Raleigh, NC, Scott Stewart of Charlotte, NC, Krista Stewart Heavner and husband, Brett of Ypsilanti, MI, Kasey M. Stewart of Concord, NC, Taylor Jay Stewart and Brittany Davis of Morganton; five great-grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren, five great step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Louise Buchanan and her husband, Harold, are recognized for many years of care and friendship provided to Mr. Stewart and his family.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Larry W. Cline officiating. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Monday from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes before the funeral hour. At other times the family will be at the residence on Arthur Stewart Dr. Memorial gifts may be made to Burke Hospice & Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690. Mr. Stewart was a devoted husband and a loving Christian father and gave unselfishly of himself, his wisdom and his love to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.