In Loving Memory Of
Sept. 10, 1935 ~ March 22, 2025
Beverly Jean Stewart went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in Paradise on March 22, 2025. Beverly was born September 10, 1935 to Joe Bennett and Irene McLeod on the ranch at Picacho, Lincoln County, New Mexico. She married the love of her life, George Rainey Stewart, on September 2, 1954 at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico.
Beverly and George began their life in Olton where they farmed while attending Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Four years later George was drafted into the U.S. Army, where Beverly followed him to several bases over the next four years. They welcomed their first daughter, Dianna, while on active duty, and their second daughter, Cheryl, shortly after returning to the Rocky Ford area, where they stayed until 1965. Their next move was to the farm at Hart Camp where they raised their family and were involved in the community, Fieldton Baptist Church, as well as Olton ISD and Littlefield ISD, where their daughters attended school. Beverly was a Girl Scout Leader and served on the Olton PTA for many years, along with supporting other activities her daughters participated in. She also spent many years as a member and volunteer with the Littlefield VFW Women's Auxiliary. It was during these early years that Beverly met two other women in the area that were also raising their families with children the same age. Beverly, JoHelen Harrell and Jo Muller developed a friendship that spanned over 50 years and took them up and down the road of laughter and tears, and they were always there for each other. All three were talented artists and during the early years the ladies could be found getting together weekly at alternating homes for what was fondly called the Mountain Dew Art Club. After her daughters were older, Beverly worked at Oecia's Photography Studio in Littlefield as a touch-up artist and later for the Lamb County Clerk's office.
In the mid 1970's they moved to Fieldton and to Littlefield in 1989. Following the death of George in 1990, Beverly again became active in the community as a member of We, the Women, serving as President, Littlefield Cemetery Association, and spent many years doing what she loved most – taking care of the floral decorations at First Baptist Church of Littlefield, working with the GA Group and in the office on Sunday mornings. Beverly was also honored with the "Woman of the Year" award by the Littlefield Chamber of Commerce in 1995.
In September of 2017 Beverly moved back to Olton, where she and George began their life together, and lived at Runningwater Draw Care Center, where she was loved, and known to adopt several of her caregivers as grandsons and granddaughters, until her passing. The family wants to thank JoHelen Harrell and Jo Muller for the love and support they provided to Beverly during their many years of friendship, and especially during her years at Runningwater Draw Care Center as they kept her active and, on the move, as long as her health allowed it. A special thank you to Jo Muller who continued that love and support on her own following JoHelen joining Beverly at Runningwater. Words cannot express the appreciation of the family to the entire staff at Runningwater for the loving and compassionate care provided during her years at the center. In her final days, her daughter and grandson were in awe of the staff members stopping by to check on her, even if they were not working her wing, and even if they no longer worked there. Runningwater is a facility filled with kind and loving angels, and knowing she was receiving the best care available was always a blessing.
Beverly was proceeded in death by her husband, George Stewart; daughter, Chery Stasiak; parents, Joe Bennett and Irene McLeod; sister, Mary Cogdill; brother, Joe McLeod; brother-in law, Jim Cogdill; and George's parents, George "Bub" and Lucille Stewart.
Beverly is survived by daughter, Dianna (Jim Harvill) of South Padre Island, TX; son-in-law, Pete Stasiak (Melinda) McAlester, OK; grandsons, Michael Yates (Anna) of Pearland, TX and George Stasiak of Safford, AZ; granddaughters, Laural Powell of San Benito, TX, Shannon Harvill of Harlingen, TX, Nicole Stasiak of Scottsdale, AZ, Dani Tripp of McAlester, OK, and Rylea Stasiak of Ada, OK. Nine great grandchildren, Devin Powell (Bonnie), Dehl Powell (Aryol), Kimberly Zuniga (Danny), Ernest Quintanilla (Alexa), Eric Quintanilla, Audri Kempton, Gaje and Jaxon Tripp, Thomas Yates and Raini Tripp. Six great-great grandchildren, Wiatt, Connor and Mason Powell, Paula Zuniga, Daxton Powell and Athena Quintanilla; and nieces and nephews, Pat Cogdill, Mike Cogdill, Beth Rhodes, Mark McLeod and their families.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, March 25, 2025, at First Baptist Church Littlefield, TX with Pastor Tanner Wilson officiating. Memorials can be made to Runningwater Draw Care Center, P.O. Box 409, Olton, TX 79064 or First Baptist Church of Littlefield, 400 E. 6th St., Littlefield, TX 79339. Arrangements were under the personal care of Hillcrest Funeral Home in Littlefield, Texas.