Memorial Service
Community Christian Church- Email Details
- 210 North Main St. North Canton, Ohio 44720
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Shirley Ann
Stewart
September 18, 1935 – February 2, 2018
Obituary
Shirley Ann Stewart
After a long and faithful walk among us, Shirley Ann Bobby Stewart, affectionately known as Lea, was called home into the arms of Our Heavenly Father on February 2, 2018 after a long and difficult battle with Alzheimer's disease. She joins her husband of 61 years, John H. Stewart, Jr. (Jack) who recently passed away in October 2017.
Funeral services for Shirley will be held on Saturday, February, 24, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Community Christian Church, 210 Main Street, North Canton, OH with Pastor Sarah Peck-Taylor officiating. A private interment will precede the Worship Service at North Lawn Cemetery, 4927 Cleveland Ave NW, Canton, OH where she will be laid to rest. Friends may call on the family at Community Christian Church.
Shirley led an amazing life that is worth documenting. She was born in 1935 in Amsterdam, Ohio to Violet Louise (Kirkland) and John Henry Bobby. She spent much of her life living in the Canton area. Shirley attended Harter Elementary School and was a straight A student. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1953. She was President of the Alexis League, a three-year contributor to the newspaper, The Echo , and a member of The National Honor Society. She is fondly remembered for being elected as the stunning Lincoln Lions Football Homecoming Queen. Her senior yearbook noted she "was never too busy to smile". After high school Shirley worked as a telephone operator at The Ohio Bell Telephone Company and as a model. She loved to dance under stars at the Meyers Lake Ballroom with her soon to be husband, Jack whom she married in 1956.
Her greatest joy in life was to be a fully devoted mother to her three daughters.She was involved in many school and family activities spanning several decades. Shirley enjoyed many hobbies. She was an avid reader, having built an extensive library of several hundred books; she loved to play classical piano late into life; she tended to her glorious flower gardens wherever she lived. She cared for many animals in her lifetime, and cherished her several cats. She often said she felt closest to her Lord and Creator when she was outside tending to His earth and His creatures, big and small.
Shirley was a "Powder Puff Pilot" and a member of the AOPA, Aircraft Owner's and Pilot's Association, having earned her private pilot's license in 1964. She was licensed to operate single engine and multi-engine aircraft. She and Jack logged many air miles in their Cessna 410. Shirley often flew with girlfriends on short trips throughout the Midwest.
Following many years of volunteering as a Gray Lady at Aultman Hospital, Shirley entered Kent State University School of Nursing.In 1973 she graduated, passed the State of Ohio Board of Nursing exam to become a licensed registered nurse. She continued as a nurse volunteer at the Hartville Migrant Clinic in Hartville, OH and Edwin Shaw Hospital in Akron, OH for subsequent years, tending to the needs of women, children and the mentally ill.
Shirley was a resident of Perry Township in Canton, Ohio; she also maintained a second home in Sanibel Island, Florida during most of her lifetime. She treasured her visits there every year, relishing the opportunity to teach her grandchildren how to swim, the names of sea shells, or the risk of alligators, demonstrating respect and awe for nature. She was a financial contributor to the Sanibel Conservation Foundation and J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on the Island.
Her love of nature drew her to Lake Mohawk in Carroll County as well where she visited many summers over decades before retiring there. She was active in the Lake Mohawk Property Owners Association and well known for her yellow house on the hill full of terraced flower gardens.
She spent the last four plus years of her life as a resident of Windsor Medical Center in North Canton where she received excellent and compassionate care from Windsor and Crossroads Hospice.
She and her husband previously worshipped at The Canton Baptist Temple where they established a scholarship fund for young Christians seeking a college education in the ministry field. Before she was married she worshipped at the Eleventh Street Church of God, Canton, OH; she was married at and became an active member of the former First Baptist Church of Canton, OH; she laterworshipped at First Christian Church in Malvern, OH and several churches in Carroll County,OH; she also worshipped at the Sanibel Community Church, Sanibel Island, FLA; later in life she and her husband became members of The Community Christian Church in North Canton, OH.
Shirley and Jack were contributors to the Stark County Community Foundation and directed their financial resources to many local and national charitable organizations such as The American Cancer Society, Strides Against Breast Cancer and The Alzheimer's Association of America.
Shirley is survived by her three daughters and their families: Lorraine G. Stewart of North Canton, OH; Ellen Stewart Tennison (LV) of Granbury, TX; and Amy Stewart Pinger (Steve) of Ft. Myers, FLA; eleven grandchildren, including Kate Rojek Kundrat (Jonathan) of Atlanta, GA; Grace Ellen Rojek, Andrew John Rojek, Daniel Mark Rojek, all of North Canton, OH; Shali Tennison Wilson (Tasha Cantrell) of Ft. Worth, TX, and Jessica Tennison Gray (Jordan) of North Richland Hills, TX; Emily Tennison Hall (Jake) of Oklahoma City, OK; Abigail Zoe Tennison of Atlanta, GA; Matthew Steven Pinger (Erin) of Cincinnati, OH; Kyle Jonathon Pinger (Ashley) of Cincinnati, OH and Justin Amor Pinger of Ft. Myers, FLA; as well as 13 great-grandchildren.
Shirley is survived by hersister, Lynn Ormiston (Gayle) of Savannah, GA., and her nieces, Rachel (Ormiston) Caffoe (Jason) of Seattle, WA, Anna Ormiston of Madison, WI and nephew, Michael Ormiston of Brooklyn, NY; and her sister in law, Glenda Bobby (John) of Port Richey, FLA
Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Henry and Violet Louise (Kirkland) Bobby (1986, 1985); her brother, John R. Bobby (Glenda) (2017); her in-laws Mr. and Mrs. John H.and Hazel (Dawson) Stewart, Sr., (1994, 1983); her brothers and sisters in law Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. and Dorothy L. (Stewart) Blosser (2001, 2003) and Mr. and Mrs. Richard G. and Barbara A. (Stewart) Tillett (2008, 2009) as well as nephew Thomas G. Tillett (2011) ; she is survived by nephews Curt C. Blosser (Mary) of Dalton, OH; Fred C. Blosser II (Beth) of Pompano Beach, FLA; David C. Blosser (Sherry) of Canton, OH; Daniel S. Blosser (Jill) of Dalton,OH; Richard A. Blosser (Jeanne) of Dalton; and niece Kathy Tillett Smith of Massillon, OH; niece Carolyn Tillett of Canton, OH, as well as their many children and grandchildren.
She is survived by family friend and caregiver Mrs. Lola Conway of Louisville, OH.as well as special, life-long friends of sixty years, Mrs. Shirley Hartzell(Rich) of North Canton, OH, Mr. Ronald Eschilman(Carol) ofMassillon,OH and Mr. Bob Hill (Kay) of North Canton, OH.
To honor Shirley, memorial contributions can be made in her name tothe Shirley A. Stewart Nursing Scholarship , Malone University ; The Stewart Family Foundation Bell Tower and Gazebo Fund , c/of Lorraine G. Stewart, Trustee, or The Alzheimer's Association of America . Please sign the guest book.
Shirley's legacy lives in the hearts and lives of the many people she knew and loved.
"Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it." - Psalm 96:11-12
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