Mary Louise Stewart

WEST FRANKFORT - Mary Louise Stewart, 107, of West Frankfort, passed away peacefully on Nov. 7, 2024, at Manor Court Nursing Home in Carbondale. She was born on Sept. 2, 1917, in rural Jefferson County, to Raymond Inglett and Mary Alma (Martin) Inglett. On Dec. 16, 1939, she married Bert Stewart, and together they enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage.

Louise (as she was known) was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters, her husband, and a daughter, Sharon Pappas Helleny. She is survived by a son, Bruce (Marleigh) Stewart, of Carbondale, three grandchildren, John Michael Pappas of Salem, Lynsey (John Wegman) Stewart of Chicago, and Christy Stewart, of Chicago, and three great grandchildren, Branson Pappas of Salem, and Eleanor Jane Wegman and Margaret Louise Wegman, of Chicago.

Louise enjoyed a long and fruitful life. As of her death, she had lived during 43% of the history of the United States. Starting with Woodrow Wilson, she lived during the terms of 19 U.S. presidents, including her favorite, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose New Deal policies helped poor rural Americans and caused her to be a proud life-long Democrat.

She was a witness to history. As a child, her mother took her to school in a horse and buggy and she watched her father plow the fields behind a team of horses. She vividly remembered their first electricity, which she described as a single wire hanging from the middle of the ceiling of the main room with a light bulb attached. She witnessed the Spanish flu pandemic, the Great Depression, World War I and World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, the Gulf Wars, space travel, computers, the internet, the Covid 19 pandemic and much more. It was a lot to digest in one lifetime.

She was a long-time member of the Church of Christ and she and Bert were among the original members who built the church building in West Frankfort in the 1950s, where services are still held. Her Christian faith was very important to her.

Louise was an accomplished seamstress, and an excellent cook and enjoyed any kind of craft project. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and a dedicated friend and neighbor who brought joy to the lives of many people. She will be sorely missed by all.

The family wants to thank the professional staff at Manor Court Nursing Home who not only gave Louise excellent care, but also made her feel loved and appreciated during the last 16 months of her life.

Parker-Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfort has been entrusted with arranging a private family funeral service. Friends are invited to leave a comment or memory on their website. The family requests that flowers not be sent. Louise requested that anyone wanting to make a charitable contribution in her memory contribute to any organization doing cancer or heart research.