Billy Jo Lee Stewart

Billy Jo Lee Stewart, 85, of Lufkin, was born August 14, 1926 in Purdon, Texas, the daughter of the late Maudia Mae (Richardson) and Jack Wilford Lee. She passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2012 in a local hospital.

Mrs. Stewart was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was class valedictorian of the Apple Springs Graduating Class of 1944. She was a charter member of the Apple Springs Old Timers' Association and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Lufkin. Mrs. Stewart enjoyed ceramics and quilting.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Gina Stewart; daughter, Brenda Jones; grandchildren, Christopher Lee and Janay Jones and Grant Jones and fiancé Diana Shupak; great-grandchildren, Kanin Lee Jones, Dustin Shupak and Dayton Shupak; sister, Lynda K. Lee Owens and husband Larry G. Owens; sisters-in-law, Oleta Stewart and Jacqueline Stewart and husband Carroll; and a number of other family members and friends.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Stewart was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Ray Stewart; brother-in-law, Bill Stewart; and nephew, Ted Stewart.

Mrs. Stewart was also survived by her lifelong friends, Elna Cline (Barton) White and Marva Joyce (Rogers) White. They were friends for more than 78 years and talked to each other almost daily.

Pallbearers will be Christopher Lee Jones, Grant Daniel Jones, Bill M. Stewart, Mitchell Stewart, Dayton Michael Shupak and Keith Lewing.

Honorary pallbearers will be her great-grandson, Kanin Lee Jones; and nephews, Tim Stewart and David Stewart.

Services for Mrs. Stewart will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 17, 2012 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Horace Fletcher officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Apple Springs.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at Gipson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral HomeSprings.