WILLIE MAE CHURCHWELL STEWART

Willie Mae Churchwell Stewart, 91, of San Angelo, passed away on September, 17, at Regency House. Family visitation will be held 6:00-8:00pm Monday, September 19 at Robert Massie Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 10:00am, Tuesday, September 20 at Fairmount Cemetery, with Pastor Barbara Dyke of Day Memorial United Methodist Church, officiating. She was born April 29, 1914 in San Saba County, Texas. Willie Mae Stewart was the sixth of eight daughters born to James A. & Amanda Whitley Churchwell. Her only brother died at birth. She attended Spring Creek School in the Neal Community. She told stories of playing on the baseball team with her sisters, Jewel, Oma and Nancy. They attended the Methodist Church where her Mother played the organ. Working along side her parents and sisters and tending to the animals was a way of life for her. She recalled coming home from school, changing clothes and going to the fields to either chop or pick cotton until dark. She came to Tom Green County in 1924 with her parents and sister by wagon and one Model-T driven by her sister Jewel, who knew how to drive. They brought many of their animals with them to the farm east of San Angelo at Six Mile Crossing. It was later called Churchwell Farm. She then attended Sykes School. Willie Mae Stewart was a homemaker and sewed for her daughters, granddaughters and many others. Her fried chicken, pinto beans and cornbread and German chocolate cake were always requested for family gatherings. At the age of 64 she decided she could and should go to work outside the home. She retired from San Jacinto Elementary School at 75 years of age. She was the happiest when she was with her family, especially her grandchildren or great grandchildren who affectionately called her "Granny Bill". She felt fortunate to be close with her sisters and loved to visit her sister near Regency, Texas because it was only a short distance to their "homeplace." She was known to her many nieces and nephews as "Aunt Bill" and she loved them all dearly. She was a member of Day Memorial United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, James A. & Amanda Whitley Churchwell, her husband Reuben (Jack) Stewart, siblings, Alva Newson, Ada Stuard, Jewel Jones, Oma Hamrick, Nancy Bollinger, Idell Jones and Infant Brother, and one Son-In-Law, David D. Atkinson. She is survived by one sister, Lucy Mika of San Angelo, children, Loretta & Jerry Orsak, Joanne & Johnny Hudson, Betty & Jerry Lay and Linda Atkinson all of San Angelo, and Reuben & Penny Stewart of Claremore, OK. Grandchildren, Debbie & Ed Cunningham, Ricky & Teresa Waters, Greg & Lavonne McCall, Danny McCall, Stewart Atkinson, Suzanne Atkinson, and Stacy Gonzalez all of San Angelo, Steve & Valarie Hudson of Miles, Kelli & Kelly Conder of Tuscola, Jack & Mary Stewart of BellaVista, AK, and Marlo & Bill Holly of Broken Arrow, OK. Great-Grandchildren include, Brad & Mercyla Fly, Mallory & Sean McGarry, Leddy McCall Landon McCall, Amber McCall, Britni Gonzalez all of San Angelo, Ashley Waters, of San Antonio, Sterling Hudson and Holly Hudson both of Miles, Texas, Kelsey Everett of Spring, Texas, Maria McKenzie of Stillwater, OK, Jake McKenzie of Broken Arrow, OK, Jason Stewart of Couderay, Wisconsin. Great-Great Grandchildren, Abbie Shelburne and Amory Fly, both of San Angelo. Her Grandsons will be pallbearers. The family would like to express our sincere appreciation for the care and compassion shown to our Mother by the nurses and staff of the OB floor and the 2nd floor East and all of the staff at San Angelo Community Medical Center, Dr. Robert Alexander, Dr. John Hunt, the Regency House staff and Vista Care Hospice. Memorials in Willie Mae's name may be given to West Texas Rehabilitation Center at 3001 S. Jackson Street or Day Memorial United Methodist Church at 1202 Preusser or to your favorite charity.