Thomas Julius Stewart, 74, of Yulee, Fla., passed away Monday, February 18, 2019 at UF Health in Jacksonville, Fla.
He was born in Brunswick, Ga. to the late Julius Ellis Stewart and Minnie Lee Tanner and moved to Jacksonville as a child, graduating from Ribault High School. After graduation, he served honorably and with distinction in the U.S. Army in Vietnam as an MP and sharp shooter.
After returning home from the military, Mr. Stewart was involved in a motorcycle accident and lost the use of his dominant arm. According to his family, he could do more with one arm than most can accomplish with the use of both. He was a true renaissance man – artist, craftsman, mechanic – and could be found tinkering on his beloved 1977 Camaro “Relic.” He enjoyed fishing and cooking, and, above all, he loved his family.
He met his future wife, Bonnie Faye Mills, in Jacksonville in 1966. They married in 1968. Thomas and Bonnie moved in 1971 to Yulee, where he was employed as a security guard.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, J. W. Stewart and John Stewart, and sisters, Susie Miller and Joann Adams.
He leaves behind his wife of over 50 years, Bonnie Faye Stewart of Yulee; daughter, “Cissy” Tatum and her husband, “Tate,” of Yulee; son, Lee Stewart and his companion, Rhosalee, of Jacksonville; sister, Wilma (Dave) Watson of Jacksonville; brother, Robert (Iris) Stewart of Jacksonville; grandchildren, Chris (Marissa) Rowell, Christiana (AJ) Brixon, Allyssa Stewart, Audrey Tatum, Allen Tatum, Sand and Sid Mangalindan, and Robert Stewart; great-grandchild, Lexar Brixon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at noon Wednesday, February 27, 2019 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest at 2 p.m. later that day in Jacksonville National Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Tuesday evening, February 26, 2019 at the funeral home.
The family requests that donations be made in Thomas’ memory to the American Cancer Society.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors