Sara Sue Stewart

Sara Sue Stewart — beloved great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law, sister, aunt, and great-aunt — has been delivered from this world into forever rest. Those who loved her greatly mourn and miss her.

Born in Hillsboro, Texas in 1944, Sara was the daughter of Elizabeth Arbie Barnes and Noel Pautsky, Sr. She spent most of her life in the greater Wichita Falls region. A self-employed oil & gas professional, Sara worked in various capacities for local production companies, including Oakridge Oil & Gas.

Her family was devotedly and attentively at Sara’s bedside in her final weeks — a reflection of the honor, respect, and deep affection that she demonstrated to them throughout her life. Amazing Grace was sung to her immediately before and after her passing.

Sara’s first love, Herschel Wortham — with whom she had a daughter and from whom she divorced early in life — remained her best and truest friend until his death in 2012. She and her daughter, Kelly, were known to regularly have long, laughter-filled phone conversations that spanned hours.

Sara played a unique and outsized role in her two granddaughters’ lives, highlighted by long summer and winter months spent together in their childhood, teenage, and early adult years. They were and remain fiercely loyal to her.

From a young age, she demonstrated great love for and close relationships with companion animals — both dogs and cats — and made generous contributions to local animal shelters.

Sara is survived by her daughter, Kelly Wick; her granddaughters, Abigail & Anna-Lisa; her son-in-law, Stephen Wick; her grandsons-in-law, Martti & Stanley; her great-grandsons, Noam, Asher, Caleb, & Leo; her older brother & his wife, Tom & Judy Hudson; her younger brother & his wife, Noel & Carmen Pautsky, Jr.; her niece, Cheryl; and her nephews, Mike, Billy, & Jacob.