J. HAROLD STEWART DIES LATE MONDAY

PRESIDENT SCHOOL BOARD; HAD SERVED AS MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN

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J. Harold Stewart, president of the Blair Board of Education, and former Mayor and City Councilman, died of a heart attack at his home Monday evening at 8:30. He had been confined to his home the past several weeks and apparently had been improving in health.

Mr. Stewart was born in Blair on January 18, 1894, and on February 8, 1915, he was married to Miss Merle Taylor. To this union five children were born, all of whom with the wife survive him.

He had long been prominent in civic affairs and had been a most ardent supporter of the municipal light plant. He served as councilman from the Fourth Ward for two terms and then was elected Mayor, which office he held for two years. It was during his administration as mayor that the shift from artificial gas to natural gas was effected in Blair. After retirement from public life for a number of years, he was elected a member of the school board several years ago and was president of that body at the time of his death. He had been manager of the Stewart Pharmacy for the past 20 years.

Surviving him are his wife; four daughters, Mrs. Jean Colburn of Chatt, Tenn.; Mrs. Janet Hurd of Wichita, Kans.; and Mrs. Marianna Berkley and Mrs. Pauline Varley, both of Blair; and one son, Jon Harold, at home; his mother, Mrs. E. R. Stewart; Miss Ethel Stewart, a teacher in the Omaha schools; and three brothers, Donald and Kenneth of Blair; and Keith of Big Springs, Texas, as well as six grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held from the Congregational Church at 2:00 o’clock this afternoon with the Rev. Watson F. Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Blair Cemetery.

#2-25 Oct., 1945 - The Enterprise

J. HAROLD STEWART RITES ARE TODAY

Former City Councilman, Mayor, And Present Pres. Of School Board

BUSINESSMAN AND NATIVE OF BLAIR

J. Harold Stewart, who has been ill for several months, died suddenly Monday evening at about nine o’clock. He had been confined to his home for several weeks, but was thought to be improving when the fatal turn came.

Deceased was born and reared in Blair. He was educated in the Blair Schools, and entered business when he gained his maturity. Had he lived until next January 18th, he would have reached his 52nd anniversary.

He was married to Miss Merle Taylor on February 8, 1915, and they immediately established a home in Blair. Five children were born to this union, and it proved to be a happy and contented home. Of the five children, four were daughters, all of whom are married; the youngest is a son, Jon Harold, who is the only survivor of the Stewart family to carry on the name.

The daughters are Mrs. Gordon Colborn of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Mrs. Harold Hurd of Wichita, Kansas; Mrs. K. H. Berkley at home; and Mrs. J. E. Varley of Omaha. These, with the wife and son, Jon, at home, are left to mourn his passing.

Besides the members of his immediate family, deceased is survived by his mother, Mrs. E. R. Stewart and three brothers, (????) and Kenneth of Blair, and Keith of Big Springs, Texas, and one sister, Miss Ethel Stewart who teaches in Omaha.

All the children, with the exception of Mrs. Gordon Colborn, will be present at the funeral rites as will also all the brothers and sister.

J. Harold Stewart was a man who was honored for his good judgment and his open, fair-minded manner in all his dealings. In times past he served as councilman and as mayor of his city, and at his death he was the president of the School Board. This is proof of the confidence bestowed upon him by the people of the community in which he had spent his entire life.

Few men can live in one community for a lifetime with as little criticism or have as many friends as did J. Harold Stewart. He lived a life well worthy of emulation and his good deeds will live after him. In his death Blair has lost a good citizen and one who will be missed for some time to come.

Funeral services are being held this Thursday afternoon at two o’clock from the Congregational church with Rev. Watson F. Lewis officiating, and interment will be made in the Blair Cemetery.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

FindaGrave Memorial # 119603373