Annie Faye Stewart, co-founder of Stewart’s Food Store, dies at 88

The community turned out in large numbers on Sunday to mourn the passing of Annie Faye Stewart, who founded and ran Stewart’s Grocery Store in Olney with her husband Harold and her sons Robert and Danny.

Mrs. Stewart was 88 years old when she died on Wednesday, July 9, at Hospice of Wichita Falls. The funeral service was held in the Chapel of Lunn Funeral Home of Olney, with Scotte Clark officiating. She was buried at Restland Cemetery, under the direction of Lunn Funeral Home.

Mrs. Stewart was born on November 27, 1935, in Baylor County, Texas, to the late Major Goree and Leona (Parker) Blankenship. She married Harold Wayne Stewart on December 23, 1952, in Wichita Falls, Texas. They moved to Olney in 1957 from Seymour, Texas.

Robert Stewart, a historian, touched on the Blankenship family’s journey from Britain and Ireland as American colonists to his parents’ arrival in Olney in 1957.

He recounted how the Blankenship family arrived in Virginia in 1670 and how her forebears fought in the War of Independence and the Civil War. During Reconstruction “the family branches merged in the Red Dirt paradise of Baylor County,” Mr Stewart said. “Mom was born in the Round Timber area where her dad and grandfather farmed.” and later moved to Seymour with her family.

There, Mrs. Stewart’s mother took in ironing to support the family and taught her daughter sewing and cooking in a loving household full of kids. She had a particularly close relationship with her brotherThelbert, Mr. Stewart recounted, going barefoot and seeking adventure during the summers, climbing trees and walking into town to go to the “picture shows” with stars like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Mrs. Stewart was particularly fond of musicals.

Mrs. Stewart met her husband in grade school as he became close friends with Thelbert. While Harold Stewart left school in eighth grade to work for Goble’s Dairyland Milk in Wichita Falls, the two of them became closer and finally, after Mrs. Stewart’s junior year, they got married and came to Olney.

Mr. Stewart worked for Goble’s and Baird’s Bread over the years while the family, now with two sons, became active members of their church and the Olney community. Mrs. Stewart taught Bible classes at Hamilton Street Church of Christ, while Mr. Stewart served as a Deacon, between them influencing many young people over the decades. She was a school room mother and a den mother in the Cub Scouts while he coached Little League and served as a volunteer fireman.

Later, Mrs. Stewart worked at First National Bank, eventually rising to vice president and eventually together with her spouse bought Oak Street Grocery, a small neighborhood store. The Stewarts together made it a success, moving to bigger Main Street quarters, and building a thriving business that survived competitors and the ups and downs of the economy. Next year will be the 50th anniversary of Stewart’s Food Store. The store’s success made it possible for the family to buy two farms where Mr. Stewart raised wheat, cotton and cattle.

Robert Stewart closed out his rememberance by recalling the care that Mrs. Stewart gave her ailing husband, the joy she took in her children and grandchildren and her abiding faith.

“Our Mom and Dad were the best. They came from humble beginnings but accomplished much and succeeded spectacularly. They provided us with a warm, loving home and a wonderful childhood. We were fortunate to have most of our extended family nearby… and big boisterous family gatherings were frequent. We enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing and yearly family vacations and celebrated birthdays and holidays together,” Mr. Stewart said, adding that “Sunday dinners together were the norm and were often followed by “cheering on the Dallas Cowboys when they were a real Texas team with a real Texas coach.”

Annie Faye was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harold Stewart, two sisters, Thelma Bailey and Linda Blankenship, and three brothers, Van Earl Blankenship, Muriel Blankenship, and Major Goree Blankenship, Jr.

She is survived by her two sons and one daughter-in-law, Robert Wayne and Julie Stewart and Daniel Alan Stewart, both of Olney, Texas; her brother and sister-inlaw, Thelbert and Peggy Blankenship, of Wichita Falls, Texas; two grandchildren: Shannon Elizabeth (Stewart) and Jason Pack of Olney, Texas and Robert William (Will) and Hannah Stewart of Olney, Texas, and three great-grandchildren; Ava Marie Stewart, Audrey Caroline Stewart, and Mae Ellen Stewart, of Olney, Texas.

Memorials may be made to the Hamilton Street Church of Ch-Memorials may be made to the Hamilton Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 736, Olney, Texas 76374; the Olney Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 352, Olney, Texas 76374; the Hamilton Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 158, Olney, Texas 76374; or any charity of your choice.