Hal Milford Stewart's Obituary
Mr. Hal Milford Stewart died January, 13th 2004 at the age of 92. Hal was born in Stamps, AR February 15th, 1911 to James Roy Stewart and Mary Eleanor Perkins Stewart.
Hal lived in Stamps, Monett, Mo and then Muskogee OK where he graduated from Central High in 1929. Hal often told the story about him, at the age of 15, and his brother James Roy Stewart hiking up the Cog Rail to the top of Pikes Peak back before there was a trail. He worked his way through college at the University of Oklahoma where he joined and was an active member of the Kappa Alpha Order. In 1933 he graduated earning his bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in finance.
Hal joined the Army Finance Corp in 1942. The first time he tried to enlist he was under weight. He ate a bunch of bananas before he tried the second time. It turns out that this was a common way to gain a few pounds quickly. He rose quickly through the ranks and was recommended and then attended Officer Candidate School at Duke University. He was honorably discharge from active duty in 1947. He joined the Army Reserve in 1954 and served until his retirement at the rank Lieutenant Colonel in 1969.
He joined Creole Petroleum Corporation in 1947 and was stationed in Caracas, Venezuela. Creole was an affiliate of what is today Exxon Mobil. He was stationed in Venezuela until 1950 when he transferred to Saudi Arabia with the Arabian American Oil Company. While stationed in Saudi he traveled extensively throughout the Middle East, Egypt, and Europe. He left Saudi and transferred back to Creole in 1953. It's should be noted that he left a Bible with his houseboy which was considered contraband in Saudi.
Hal married Jane Frazier McKinnon on September 16th 1954 in Muskogee, Oklahoma they returned to Caracas, Venezuela where they lived and raised their family until his retirement from Creole in 1968.
Retiring in Fayetteville, Hal joined the Central United Methodist Church in 1968. He was known to frequent the post office, bank, brokerage office, and library. He spent most of his time playing golf and investing in the market. Hal's coup was investing in interest sensitive stock in the late 70's and then getting out one month before the crash of '87.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years Jane Frazier McKinnon Stewart. He is survived by his daughter Joni Stewart Mayes, his son-in-law Charles Noble Mayes, his son James Robert Stewart, his daughter-in-law Andrea Lynn McConnell Stewart, his granddaughters, Jamie Michelle Mayes, Jenna Melody Mayes, Jodie Melissa Mayes, Wendy McConnell Stewart and Sarah Elizabeth Stewart, all of Fayetteville.
The family request that in lieu of flowers that donations be made in his honor to the Central United Methodist Church building fund and the Arkansas Methodist Children's Home.
Visitation will be Sunday, January 18, 2004 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Nelson Berna Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM. Services will be at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville on Monday, January 19, 2003 at 1pm with Rev. J. Anthony Holifield officiating . Following the service he will be buried with full military honors at the Fayetteville National Cemetery.
Visitation Date Time Sunday, January 18, 2004 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM with the family present to great friends from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM Visitation Location Nelson-Berna Funeral Home Service Date Time Monday, January 19, 2004 1:00 PM Service Location Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, AR
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