Jewell was born in Olney, Kentucky on January 17, 1916 to Bervie and Stella Burris Young. At the age of 4 she and her parents moved to Kansas to become wheat farmers. She was raised and educated in the Larned, Kansas area and graduated from Roswell High School in 1935. Jewell lived through The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl Days which taught her many important lessons about life. Following graduation she first worked at JC Penney and later was asked to come work for Miss Cain at her dress shop in Larned. She married James Ellis Stewart Sr. on August 11, 1942 in Wichita, Kansas. He owned and operated a gas station which they sold before moving to Huntington Beach, CA at the beginning of WWII. James immediately found work in an airplane factory and soon after was drafted. Jewell then got a job in a factory in the timekeeping department until her husband was stationed near Chicago, ILL. Wherever James was stationed during the war, Jewell soon followed until their first son, James Ellis Stewart Jr. was born. Towards the end of the war he was stationed close to Fresno, CA and following his discharge they decided to make Fresno their home. By then their second son John Ross had been born. Her daughter Connie Lynn arrived in 1951. Jewell had a busy life raising her three children. Her husband, James, died in 1969. After his death she continued to own and operate a car wash on Olive St. for over 15 years. She enjoyed traveling and playing cards (Pinochle) and was a member of the Progressive Women's Home Club and the Evangelical Free Church of Fresno. She moved to Visalia in 2003 to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law. Jewell was a very kind person and had lots of friends. She was very upbeat, pragmatic and practical and known for her great smile. She will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Young; her parents, Bervie and Stella; her husband James Ellis Stewart Sr. and her son James Ellis Stewart, Jr.
Jewell is survived by, her son, John Ross Stewart of Emeryville, CA; her daughter Connie Fly and husband, Jeff of Visalia; three grandchildren,Todd Stewart and wife, Rochelle, Eric Stewart and wife, Sharon Mills and Nina Squires; and four great grandchildren, Justi Stewart, Landon Stewart, Paxton Stewart and Brittany Mills.
A Graveside service will be held on Friday, January 15, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Belmont Memorial Park in Fresno, CA. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Avenue in Visalia.
Tributes and condolences may be made at www.millerchapel.com.
Arrangements entrusted to Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Ave., Visalia, CA 93291 (559) 732-8371
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