John Gene Stewart

1923 – 2020

John Gene Stewart passed away peacefully at home early morning Tuesday, January 28 ^th , 2020 surrounded by those who loved him.  He was born August 28 ^th , 1923 in Chickasha, Oklahoma to Samuel Franklin Stewart and Margaret McCoy Stewart.  In his youth, he also lived in Pauls Valley and Wynnewood Oklahoma and is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation.  He lived most of his adult life in Stillwater, Oklahoma where he raised his family and worked for and retired from the Oklahoma State Transportation Department as an engineer and bridge construction inspector.

In his 96 years of life, he survived the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, fought in World War II with the Army Air Corps in a B-24 bomber crew, lived on four continents, raised four children, paid off two houses, and loved one woman for sixty-five years.  He was a quiet and kind man who enjoyed his pets and watching wildlife around his home, working in his yard and household projects, reading, a cup of coffee with friends, and spending time with his family.  Later in life, he and his wife, Elisabeth, relocated to Ormond Beach, Florida which is where he passed away.

He attended school at Oklahoma University after the war and studied geology.  He eventually worked for several oil exploration companies searching for oil reserves in Somalia, Venezuela, Libya, and France.  He met his wife, Elisabeth Herbert from Pau, France and they were married on July 30 ^th , 1955 in Pau and relocated back to the United States and started their family.  Later in life, he returned to school and attended night classes at Oklahoma City University and received a degree in Political Science.

He is survived by his wife, Elisabeth Stewart, daughter Carole Nyenhuis of Venice, FL and her husband Ron Nyenhuis, son Jerome Stewart of Orlando, FL, daughter Valerie Silvers of Denver, CO and her husband Steven Silvers, and son Frank Stewart of Ormond Beach, FL.  Grandchildren include Heather Davis, Danielle Keogh, Marissa Silvers, and Madeleine Silvers.  Great Grandchildren include Brittaney Neuman, Bryanne Fillman, Bryley Fillman, and Aria Keogh.  Siblings Bert Stewart, Stanley Stewart, Jette Ann Simpson, Edward Boyd Stewart, and Cherrye Stewart predeceased him.

Funeral Service is Saturday, February 22 ^nd , 2020 at Oaklawn Cemetery in Wynnewood, OK at 1:00 PM followed by a Celebration of Life at the Artesian Hotel in Sulphur, OK.