May 11, 1930-September 29, 2017

Maxie Stewart, 87, went peacefully to her heavenly home, to be with her Lord on Friday, September 29, 2017 at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Maxie Ruth Bryant was born on May 11, 1930, in Banner, Virginia. She was the third of six children born to Garland Eugene Bryant and Etta "Mae" Evans Bryant. She was proud of her Southwest Virginia heritage and enjoyed telling friends that she was a "coal miner's daughter." Maxie was outgoing, social and well liked. While in high school, she served as editor of her high school yearbook and was active in the academic Beta Club. She excelled in academics, graduating second in her class, as salutatorian in 1948 at St. Charles High School, St. Charles, Virginia. Shortly after her graduation, the Bryant family moved to Coeburn, Virginia, where she worked as a bookkeeper for Capital Electric. At a party in Coeburn, she met her future husband, Ted Lawrence Stewart, the second son of James Jesse, "J.J." or "Bud" and Beulah Stewart of Coeburn. Ted and Maxie were married on July 16, 1950, in Clintwood, Virginia, while he was home on a three-day pass from Air Force pilot school in Texas. In their early marriage, the young couple moved to Indiana, where Ted worked for General Electric. They returned to Coeburn, where their first son was born. The Stewarts then moved to Arlington, Virginia, where Ted was employed in engineering at National Security Agency (NSA). During this time, their second son was born and Ted finished his college degree. When NSA moved to Fort Mead, Maryland, the Stewarts purchased their family home in Seabrook, Maryland, twelve miles outside of the nation's capital. With the birth of two more sons, their family was complete. Maxie was the happy mother of four boys: Carl, Don, James and Paul. She enjoyed cooking for her family, playing games with her boys and was active in guiding their academic and sport endeavors. Maxie was a natural leader and served as President of the PTA at her son's school. When her youngest was attending Goddard Junior High, Maxie began working in the school nurse's office as a health aid. After ten years, she retired from the Maryland State School System in 1986. During their retirement years, Ted and Maxie lived in Blacksburg, Virginia, until after their youngest son graduated from Virginia Tech and was married. Then, they began spending winters in Florida and summers in Colorado, to be closer to their grandchildren. During this time, Maxie enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, the Grand Canyon and other National Parks, added new states and taking a memorable vacation to ten European countries in 1987. She was a natural athlete and played on several ladies' softball teams and golf leagues. She was also an avid sports fan, attending her children and grandchildren's sports activities, including: baseball, basketball, football, soccer, track, wrestling and swimming. Always a loving wife and loyal mother, she was kind, thoughtful and generous. Maxie was also devout Christian and member of Bethel Baptist Church in Fort Collins. Maxie described her 67 years of marriage as "blissfully happy."

She is survived by her husband Ted Stewart of Fort Collins; nineteen descendants, including four sons: Carl Stewart of Plano, Texas; Don Stewart of Estes Park, Colorado; James Stewart of Fort Collins, Colorado and Paul Stewart of Winchester, Virginia; nine grandchildren: Carl III, James "Jesse," Sheri Ridgeway, Mara, Kyle, Jenna Daniels, Jared, Jacob and Laura; six great-grandchildren: Victoria, Carl Jr. IV "C.J.," Grayson Collins, Caroline, Kiana Daniels and Everly Ridgeway; and her beloved baby brother, Dan Eugene Bryant of Tacoma, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her parents Garland and "Mae" Bryant and four siblings: Dorothy "Dot" Boone, Betty Rowland, Earl Harrison "Tommy" Bryant and Gale Greear. Those who wish, may honor Maxie's memory with the placement of a Bible with The Gideons International, 261 Major Court, Danville, Virginia 24540.

Funeral Arrangements are being handled by Allnutt Funeral Service in Fort Collins, Colorado and Estes Funeral Home in Coeburn, Virginia. Maxie's service will be held Thursday, October 5, 2017, 10 AM at the Estes Funeral Home Chapel, 114 High Ave., NE, Coeburn, Virginia 24230, with Pastor Ben Murphy of the First Church of God, Wise, Virginia officiating. Stewart and Bryant family members are invited to the burial at 11 AM, at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, 436 Centre Ave NE, Coeburn and a noon lunch to follow, prepared by the ladies at the First Church of God, 702 E. Main St., Wise, Virginia.