Jack Gilbert Stewart passed away at his home with his wife, Shirley, by his side on Sept. 3, 2013, shortly after celebrating his 86th birthday with all of his family.
Jack was born Aug. 30, 1927 to Clive Charles Stewart and Eula Gladys Rakestraw Stewart. He was born in Oregon, but his family resided in Moab and traveled back home when he was about six weeks old. Therefore, Jack rightfully considered himself a native fourth-generation Moabite. He was the fourth of six children: brothers Harold and Richard (Dick); sister Beverly; and two half-brothers Clive (Buster) and David.
Jack left high school early to enlist in the Navy, and served for a year in the Philippines at the end of WWII. Following Jack’s service in the Navy he returned to Moab to finish his senior year of high school and graduated in the class of 1947.
Jack met Shirley Mae Chapman in August 1949 when her family came to Moab. They were married on June 16, 1951 and were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple that same date in 1959. They made their home in Moab and had eight children.
Jack was truly was a “Jack-of-all-trades” and had many jobs, including working on a drill rig, in a uranium mine, for a service station and Texas Gulf. He partnered with Sug Bailey for carpet and upholstery business for several years. When he retired, he worked as a custodian for the LDS church for several years. He never retired from his life of service.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he served in many callings. A highlight of his church service was serving as a worker in the Monticello temple with his wife Shirley.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and a daughter, Catherine Marie. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughter Wendy Mae (Ivor) Bradshaw of La Sal; son Jack Brett (Marilee) of Las Vegas, Nev.; son Randy Lea (Janet) of Providence; daughter Merrie Elizabeth (David) Knutson of Moab; daughter Loretta Ann (Kirk) Thiery of Monticello; son Paul Meldon (Wendy) of Denver, Colo.; daughter Christine Allana of Durango, Colo.; his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
