Charles William Stewart

Charles William Stewart was born July 15, 1948, in Alva, Oklahoma to Clarence and Marjorie Stewart. Charles grew up west of Aline where he attended school and graduated high school in 1966. Charles started driving a combine at 10 years old. His parents followed the harvest in the summer from Oklahoma to Colorado.

He attended college at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva before he enlisted in the Army. Charles was a Radio Teletype operator in the Army. He graduated second in class from the 3rd Infantry Division Radio Teletype School. He was stationed at Wurzburg, Germany. Charles had sent money home from the Army and when returning he immediately bought a Dodge Charger. He worked at Vater’s implement in Enid and helped his parents on the farm.

He married Mary Ellen (Dow) Yarbrough on August 20, 1971. Melynda was 2 years old. They lived in Fairview, Oklahoma and built a home on 13th Street. He was employed at Wal-Dons and then worked with Jim Eck doing floater truck spraying. Charles always wanted to fly. He got his pilot’s license under David Martens and started working for David at the airport in Fairview. There he got his AMP (Airplane Motor and Prop) mechanic license. He became interested in arial spraying and purchased an Ag Cat spray plane. He started Charlie’s Spraying Service and worked out of Fairview airport. In 1976 Steven William Stewart was born. Charles decided to buy a combine and custom harvest. He worked in the winter at the airport and harvested in the summer. In 1979 the family moved west of Aline and built a new home on his great-grandfathers homestead - directly on top of where the one room hand-made brick house had once been. Charles continued to do custom harvesting and travelled in the summer with Mary, Melynda and Steven from southern Oklahoma to North Dakota. Charles went on Fall harvest to Kansas a few years and when home he helped his dad with farming. In 1982 he decided to just harvest at home. In 1983 Charles and Mary divorced. Charles married Ronda Brown and began renting land, farming, and ranching. He loved his cows and running a combine. Charles also had a CDL and hauled cattle and hay going south to Texas and north to North Dakota. Charles and Ronda divorced after 20 some years and Charles and Mary were reunited in marriage on August 20, 2006 and were married for the remainder of his life.

Charles had a battle with liver cancer for a little over a year and several treatments were taken but they were not IV chemotherapy or radiation. The disease had been primarily held to the size it was and had not increased but eventually his liver began to fail, and he progressed rapidly. Charles had gone with Steven to check cattle on Tuesday before he died, placed on Humanity Hospice on Thursday, and died at home on the following Tuesday.

Charles was preceded in death by both of his parents, Marjorie Stewart and Clarence Stewart. He is survived by his wife, Mary Stewart; his children Melynda (Kevin) Bryant of Cleo Springs, Steven Stewart of Aline; and by his 6 grandchildren Colby Stewart (Fiancé- Breanna Nightengale) of Fairview, Audrey Stewart of Alva, Mandelyn Hibbitt of Fairview, Sydney Hibbitt of Cleo Springs, Branch Hibbitt (Fiancé – Kaylee Phipps) of Enid, and Cody Allison of Fairview; 5 Great-grandchildren Jordyn Judd, Aiden Bourland, Taylin Terrel, Bertie Hibbitt, and Blue Hibbitt; Sister, Patty (Joel) Shoulders; Niece, Shawna Bivins and Great nephew, Blaze Bivens; Nephew, Johnny (Nieta) Copenhaver and 2 great nephews, Dakota and Dallett Copenhaver.

A Celebration of Life service shall be held on Friday, June 3, 2022, 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church in Fairview, Oklahoma with his home church of Elm Flatt providing services by pastor, Len Coulter. A time for reminiscing and looking at pictures will be held in the Fellowship Hall following the service. Remembrances may be shared online at www.stittsworthfuneralservices.com.

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