Mary Jean Stewart-Smith

Mary Jean McAllister Stewart-Smith, commonly known as “Jean” to all but her family, was born January 22, 1923, in Sacramento CA, and left this world December 9, 2019, 6 weeks prior to her 97th birthday. Her father worked for the railroad which meant they moved a lot, probably contributing to her sociability. There were 5 children, in the McAllister household; Jean was the middle child. After leaving Sacramento, the family lived in San Diego, Portland, OR, where Jean graduated from Grant HS, and Glendale, where she attended Glendale City College, the Glendale Presbyterian Church, and where she met her husband of 39 years, Richard (Dick) Stewart. Married during the war, they eventually had 3 children, Bonnie, Linda and Neil. She worked briefly as a telephone operator, until their first daughter was born. Jean boarded other babies, when Dick returned from the war, to help out while he pursued his BS in Geology, at UCLA. From college he went to work for Union Oil, and by the 60’s followed the company’s exploration for oil to Thailand, Argentina, Bangladesh, Singapore and Brazil. Jean was always active in their church, the American Women’s Clubs overseas, and with the children in the early years as a Camp Fire Leader and Cub Scout Den Mother, in communities of Burbank and Saticoy (Ventura County).

After Dick’s passing in 1981, Jean moved to Sun City, where they maintained a retirement home. She enjoyed her church, bridge and book groups and golf. In 1986 she remarried Charles (Charlie) Smith of Whittier, an old friend, and they had 5 great years of golf, bridge, and travel before he passed away. Jean returned to her Sun City home, with brief forays to Palm Desert and Bend OR, and resumed her earlier life, enjoying United Methodist Church activities, PEO, bridge and golf. She had great friends in the community, and had a long-term boyfriend, Milton (Mike) Baird, who passed away in 2018. She lived 3 years at Cherry Hills Club (Brookdale), and the last 2 years at Starr Home Care in Murrieta, with additional care from Elizabeth Hospice.

Jean is survived by daughters, Bonnie Baird and Linda Gardner, both living in Oregon, by 6 grand- children, Jill Pugh of Florida, Thom Gardner of Oregon, Ty Gardner of Ventura, Scott and Heather Stewart of Corona and Menifee, and Shawn Stewart of Texas. She also leaves behind 8 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. Jean was pre-deceased by her 4 siblings and son, Neil. She will be buried in Riverside National Cemetery with first husband, Richard Stewart. A service will be held in Riverside County in the Spring.

A memorial service will be held May 23, at 3:00 p.m. at the Sun City United Methodist Church, 30220 Carmel Road, Sun City, CA. . In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean’s name may be sent to the Elizabeth Hospice, 500 La Terraza Blvd., Suite 130, Escondido CA 92025, or on-line, at https://elizabethhospice.org or to the Braille Institute, at www.brailleinstitute.org/sandiego.