Surrounded by the love of his beloved family, JOSEPH CLAYTON STEWART, SR. was called to the Lord on February 4, 2014, in Beaumont, at the age of 89.Born in Port Arthur on October 26, 1924, he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School.When Joe was a child, his parents owned and operated the country store on the site that later became Dryden’s clothing store in Groves.
He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps/U.S. Air Force in 1943, and served our country as a B-24 bombardier in the European theater where he participated in 30 combat missions.On one mission, he was the lead bombardier in the lead airplane of the European fleet, with 1,300 planes following his aircraft into battle.For his service in WWII, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross among other decorations.On August 30, 1947, he married his wife, Anna Lee Breaux Stewart, who preceded him in death after 63 years of marriage in 2011.
Together they made their home in Beaumont. Joe’s father had passed away when Joe was only 9 years old, and after the war, Joe graduated from LSU in Baton Rouge where his father had always wanted him to attend.Joe had two long working careers, first as a pharmaceutical representative throughout Southeast Texas and Louisiana.He later cultivated his desire to work with his hands and had a second long career as a Sears appliance repairman.
He is the son of the late Alexander Truman Stewart, Sr., and Myrtle Stewart Wilson, who preceded him in death.Joe’s beloved wife Anna Lee, and his brother Alexander Truman Stewart Jr. also preceded him in death.
He is survived by his three children, Joseph C. Stewart, Jr. and his wife, Janice, of Port Arthur; Keith Stewart and his wife, Jolane, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Connie Barlow and her husband, Doug, of Beaumont. He also cherished his grandchildren, Ken Stewart and his wife, Becki, of Beaumont; Jill Sandberg and her husband, Stephen, of Beaumont; Darren Stewart of Sugarland; James Stewart of Sugarland; Kristen Stewart stationed in Sembach, Germany, with the U.S. Army; Cliff Barlow and his wife, Ginny, of Austin; Hilary Smith and her husband, Chris, of Houston; Heather Barlow of College Station; and Sky Barlow of College Station.He also had the joy of great-grandchildren, Kendall Stewart, Parker Stewart, Kyler Harrington, Kohen Sandberg, Isla Smith, and Colette Smith. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Joe was a Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Beaumont when his children were young, and in more recent years was a member of Christian Fellowship Worship Center.Joe enjoyed camping, fishing, golf, and always the company of his family.They spent many years working in their garden of vegetables, herbs and flowers, that often caught the eye of passersby out on Phelan Boulevard. He and Anna Lee were always near their faithful furry companion, Jeb.
A gathering of Mr. Stewart’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 7, 2014, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 8, 2014, Broussard’s, with Reverend Rick White, Christian Fellowship Worship Church, Beaumont, officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff of the Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital for their kind care of Joe in his last days.
