James William Stewart, age 76, of Nixa, Missouri, died on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 in Springfield, MO. He was born in Malvern on February 16, 1940 to the late Connie Stewart and Floy Ledbetter Stewart. Reared and educated in Malvern, a great deal of his working life was spent in the painting and sheetrock business. He currently owned Stewart Drywall in Nixa, Missouri. He took great pride in his job, and strived for perfection. He also owned chicken houses, and at one point, had 45,000 brooding hens. Mr. Stewart served five years in the United States Navy. Since 1986 he had lived in Missouri, where he attended the Nixa Assembly of God Church. An avid hunter and fisherman, he loved being out on the water.

He is survived by his wife, Bobbie Jackson Stewart, to whom he was married on April 6, 1963 in Malvern; by a daughter and son-in-law, Candice and Mike Eggert of Springfield; a granddaughter, Taylor Eggert; a brother, Norman Stewart of Little Rock; brothers-in-law, Russell Jackson of Malvern and Gary Jackson of Little Rock; a sister-in-law, Ruby Stewart of Malvern; his mother-in-law, Merle Jackson of Malvern, and a host of relatives and friends.

Mr. Stewart was also preceded in death by two brothers, C. F. "Chuck" Stewart, and Charles Stewart, and his father-in-law, Sam Jackson.

The funeral will be two o'clock Saturday afternoon, April 2, 2016 in the chapel of J. A. Funk Funeral Home with Brother Keith Pennington officiating.

Pallbearers will be: Allen Alexander, Aaron Clevenger, Drew Jackson, Garrett Jackson, Clay Ledbetter, and Pete Ledbetter.

A visitation will precede the service by one hour, beginning at one o'clock.

Interment will be in Cypress Cemetery at Willow, Arkansas.

Memorials may take the form of donations to St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis or to the Children's Miracle Network.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.