Tributes

Sam Stewart, 73, of Fresno, California passed away at his home on March 14, 2015, the same way he lived his life, on his own terms. Sam was a private man. If you wanted to know his cause of death, he would have told you it was none of your business. Sam was born in Hampton Township, Illinois on May 18, 1941 to Jesse Harvey Stewart and Loretta Gwynne Stewart. Sam was proud to be a Taurus. He graduated from Moline High School in 1959 and attended Augustana College. Sam was a Vietnam Veteran and served as a First Class Machinists Mate in the United States Navy from 1962 to 1970. He served on the U.S.S. Bainbridge and was stationed in New York, Maryland, Virginia and California. During his service Sam also traveled to Australia and the Philippines. In addition, he assisted with the design of the Gulf of Tonkin patch. Sam was extremely intelligent and was a member of Mensa. He enjoyed challenging other people, especially his professors in college and during his years of military service. Details of Sam’s marriages are omitted from this obituary for fear he would haunt the author if they are disclosed. Sam became a proud father to Scott in 1963 and Lori in 1965. Sam loved being a father and grandfather. Sam worked with Soule’ Steel for many years out of Long Beach, California, and then Fresno, California. Sam retired from Burgess Construction Company in 2003 where he had worked for 23 years. His business card stated his position as “Vice President, Y.N.I.” The Y.N.I. stood for “you name it.” He covered many duties during his time at Burgess, from architectural to supervising at job sites to meeting and negotiating with tenants, among many others. Sam enjoyed his retirement. He loved to travel and was able to check many items off his bucket list. Mint Julep anyone? Sam’s passion was fishing. Every other weekend during the summer you could find him at whatever lake still had enough water to float his boat. He and his cat, AlphaGirl, would spend many days at a time on the water. He also spent a week every summer fishing at Wine Lake in Canada with his sister and brother-in-law. Sam also loved good wine, camping, building computers and reading. You never saw Sam without a book in his hand. Sam was also a Mr. Fix-it. He could fix anything, anytime, anywhere. He enjoyed working on his many projects. Sam is preceded in death by his parents Jesse and Loretta Stewart and his son Scott Stewart. He is survived by his daughter Lori Bailey and her husband Adam; grandchildren Jessica and Joshua Bailey; sister Connie Anderson and her husband Chuck; daughter-in-law Jennifer Jackson and her husband Jerry; niece Christy Bloeser; nephews Carlin and Clinton Anderson; his special friend Joan Ferver; his cat AlphaGirl; his grandcat, Rocky. At Sam’s request a private Celebration of Life will be held. Remembrances may be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America, 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or any animal shelter of the donor’s choice. Sam will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Instead of saying goodbye, we will say “See you later, kiddo.” as Sam would have done.

Tributes

Samuel L. Stewart

May 18, 1941 - March 14, 2015