Jimmy Stewart, beloved City Commissioner of Marion for 11 years, was born on May 30, 1942 in Marion to Clayton Stewart and Lucille Cash.
He married Fran Mathis on June 2, 1962 in Creal Springs who preceded him in death on June 3, 2002.
Stewart spent decades working for the General Telephone Company as a repairman.
Jimmy was first elected to the Marion City Council in 1993 and served as Street Commissioner. In the 1999 and 2003 elections he received more votes than any other council candidate, collecting 1,820 votes in the 2003 election, outdistancing several other candidates by at least 428 votes.
When Stewart became Police and Fire Commissioner, he played an instrumental role in improving the city’s police and fire departments, going to bat with the council for upgraded facilities and equipment. His passion for the city carried over into his desire to make those departments the best they could be, according to then Marion Police Chief, Ron Swafford. “He did have a passion for both departments, not only the police and fire but for the whole city. Anything he could do to better the city in any way, he was out there trying to get it done.”
Stewart not only served the city as commissioner. He and his wife Fran were important contributors to the youth of the city, spending numerous hours working as volunteers with the Marion Youth Baseball and Softball programs.
He was a member and Past President of the Lion’s Club serving in that capacity in 2000-2001. He was a member of the Marion Main Street, and also a member of the Second Baptist Church.
He was very active in Marion Youth Baseball and Softball where he coached, umpired and served on the board. He was also a volunteer at Heartland Regional Medical Center.
In the fall of 2003, Stewart was diagnosed with lung and bone cancer. Then Fire Chief Anthony Rinella said that Stewart had plans for departmental improvements up until the end.
Stewart was a fighter, attending council meetings up until late December despite his failing health. He maintained that he wanted to do his best for the city and had even made efforts to attend the council meeting just prior to his death.
Jimmy Stewart, 61, of Marion, passed away at 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2004 at his home at 807 W. Chestnut Street surrounded by his family.
Fellow Commissioner, Robert Connell, stated, “He had a good rapport with the community. He got along with everybody. He was involved in a lot of things.”
Mayor Butler was quoted as saying, “Jim as a commissioner made a significant contribution to the working of the city. I think he has been a commissioner that was certainly totally committed to the city. It may be redundant to say that he will be missed.”
Jimmy Stewart loved serving the City of Marion, but his greatest pleasure was his family.
Survivors at his death included his daughter and son-in-law, Scarlett and Mike Phillips of Marion; daughter, Misty Barclay of Marion; daughter and son-in-law, Holly and Mike Boyd of Marion; daughter and son-in-law, Gabriele and Scott Farner of Marion; grandchildren, Stewart Michael Phillips, Hannah and Grace Boyd, Molly Barclay, Zachary Farner, Tucker Farner; sister, Lilly and Arthur “Butch” Boatright of Marion; brothers, Paul and Louise Stewart of Marion, Bobby and Liz Stewart of Marion, Billy and Terry Stewart of Marion, Hal Stewart of Marion, Jerry and Toni Stewart of Marion, Jackie and Cheryl Stewart of Marion; many nieces and nephews and numerous close friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and brother, Harry Stewart.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2004 at the Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Dr. Bob Wagner and the Rev. John Howart officiating. Burial followed in Rose Hill Cemetery.
(Extracted from the Marion Daily Republican, January 12, 2004)