Gordon Arnold Stewart

Gordon Arnold Stewart was born in Denver Colorado on July 2, 1934, to Arnie Clinton Stewart and Crystal B. Stewart. In 1940 the Stewarts moved to a farm in Tanny County Missouri. Then in 1945, they moved to a dairy farm in Greene County Missouri where Gordon graduated from Republic High School in 1952.

Gordon enjoyed sports throughout his life. Baseball was his favorite. He was a pitcher in High School and even continued playing with some local teams after graduation. Gordon loved to watch sports. He enjoyed college, professional football, and basketball, but baseball was his favorite. Last year Gordon had the pleasure of seeing his Texas Rangers win their first World Series.

Gordon was a lifelong learner and teacher. He attended the University of Missouri where he received his Bachelor of Science and Master's Degree in Agriculture before going on to earn his PHD. in Animal Science from which he would become well known in Dairy Science.

While attending university, Gordon worked for the Forest Service in Idaho as a firefighter. He would spend the first half of each summer in Idaho preparing the forest against fires. The second half of the summer he spent fighting the fires that came with the dry season. As a young man, he became a crew chief, leading other young firefighters on the fire line.

Gordon wore many interesting hats in his professional career. From his time as a young farmer, dairyman, firefighter, college professor, and dairy consultant, all of Gordon's work was meaningful and made a difference in people's lives. But no matter where he was working at the time, he was a teacher, heart and soul.

His first teaching job was at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he taught for 5 years. Gordon then accepted a teaching position at Louisiana Tech at Ruston La. where he worked for the next 23 years. During that time, he served on the Board of Directors of La.'s Animal Breeder Association and helped to develop and manage their first dairy herd. Gordon was part of the Co-op for 15 years while he continued his full-time teaching.

During his time working for the University, Gordon took a leave of absence to teach agriculture in Ethiopia and Russia.

After retiring from the University, Gordon was in the Dairy Nutrition and Heard Management Department of Purina Mills in Ft. Worth. Gordon moved his family to Wichita Falls where he worked for several prominent names in the local Dairy Industry. He spent 6 years working for Barren Brothers in Windthorst, and 2 years working for the Diary of Terry and Kathy Huffman Dairy.

Gordon was the ultimate volunteer. For 21 years Gordon was a regular volunteer for Hospice of Wichita Falls. Sometimes he would greet people at the door of the center when they came to visit loved ones. Most often you would find him visiting patients in their homes. He was caring and knew how to listen, often for hours at a time. He would even mow the grass for them if they needed help. Gordon loved people and he would do any job to help someone, no matter how menial. Gordon spent hours teaching a Bible study to inmates at Allred Prison.

In 1962 Gordon married Velma Woodard Stewart and they had two children, Susan Elaine Stewart Wood and Thomas Arnold Stewart. They enjoyed a fruitful marriage until Velma passed away in 1995.

In 2001 Gordon was blessed in marriage to Frances Silk Lowe Stewart. They enjoyed a good, rich, and full life until his passing. Gordon loved and spiritually adopted Frances' children, becoming one family.

Gordon Stewart, age 90, passed away peacefully on October 11th, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents Arnie and Crystal Stewart.

Gordon is survived by his wife, Frances Stewart, and children, Thomas Stewart and wife, Denise, and Susan Wood and husband Robert, Gregg Lowe and wife, D'Awn, Tracie Davis and husband, Rick, Susan Alexander and husband Bob Arendt, Lisa Kerns and husband Johnny, and 11grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and his sister Norma Stewart Creel.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, Texas. 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 19th, 2024 at 10:00 AM at the 10th and Broad Church of Christ. 1319 10th St. Wichita Falls, Texas 76301

"Always seek knowledge and never stop learning."

Gordon Stewart