Jackie "Jack" C. Stewart

Jackie (Jack) C. Stewart was born October 4, 1928 in Turkey, Texas to Alonzo Charles Stewart (deceased) and Ruby Elnita Rivers Stewart (deceased). Graduated from High School in Portales, New Mexico and joined the Air Force after graduation. While stationed at Davis Monthan AFB he met and married Marion Frances Shurtz “Frances”. They remained married for 65 years. During the Air Force years Jack and Frances had a son in London, Jackie Michael “Mike” Stewart and a daughter in Guam, Margaret Elaine Stewart York “Elaine”. Having enjoyed Tucson and having family here, they returned on his discharge from the Air Force where he was employed at Columbia Building Materials which at one time had more block machines than any other producer in the state of Arizona. He eventually owned and ran the company until its sale. While at Columbia Building Materials, he was instrumental in developing the slump block and Hacienda Masonry Units that mimicked Mexican adobe block without the quality problems associated with adobe. During the cement shortages he was proud to say he was one of few block or concrete producers who could say he did not have to shut off customers for lack of materials. He also started Columbia Sand and Gravel, a ready-mix concrete plant and Stewart Block and Brick from which he semi-retired and then sold in 2000. He was a member of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association during the 1970”s and 1980’s and served on the board during a part of this time. Fishing, ocean and lake, were among his favorite things to do. He included family (teaching the grandsons to fish was so important to him), friends, customers and employees during each trip to fish. His favorite fish to catch were yellow tail tuna (few and far between) and grouper, the least favorite were shark. Blue gill and trout were the order of the day with the grandsons. As long as it was fried he enjoyed it! He is preceded in death by daughter Elaine and is survived by his wife of 65 years, Frances. Also surviving are son, Michael, son-in-law Tom York and his sisters Joyce Crawford, Bobby Smetak, Mary Jo Allen, Glenda Bonaiuto, Marlene Longhofer, and Kay Sammons, and grandsons Robert Stewart, Stephen Stewart, Cameron York, David Stewart and Christian York, also great-grandchildren Caleb Stewart, Makayla Stewart, Chandler Stewart, Ivy Stewart, Dane York, Kira York and step-great-grandchildren Mason Christoferson and Ciera Mladjan.