James Roy Stewart

December 25, 1938 ~ May 21, 2010
James Roy Stewart of Wickenburg, AZ, and Monticello, UT, passed away on May 21, 2010, after a long battle with Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS).
Jim was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1938, in Vernal, UT, the son of Manford Bernard (Red) and June Stewart.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Kathy, sons Roy of Tucson, AZ, and Scott (Cheri) of Wickenburg, AZ. He will also be dearly missed by his brother Edward (Carol) Stewart of Morgan, UT; Uncle George Stewart (Luleen) of Mesquite, NV; Aunt Mary Morrow of Kalispell, MT; Brothers-in-law Gary (Donna) Halls and Max (Tami) Halls of Monticello, UT, and Craig (Debra) Halls of Blanding, UT, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Barbara Tucker.
Jim attended elementary school in Jensen and Vernal, UT. He spent his 9th through 12th grades at Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, UT, a private boarding school.
After graduating from Wasatch in 1957, he spent a year in college at Utah State University. He then worked for his father at Flaming Gorge Dam in Utah. Jim joined the Operating Engineers Union and worked on Willard Bay in Northern Utah. He also worked for Kaiser Engineering running a crane at the Kennecott Copper Mine.
He spent time running a crane on an offshore drilling platform in the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. Jim then went to work in Salt Lake City, UT, for Lakeshore, a heavy equipment dealer, where he became shop foreman.
He transferred to Pocatello, ID, as a field service mechanic and traveled extensively in Oregon, Montana, Wyoming and all over Idaho working on heavy equipment.
In 1985, Lakeshore transferred Jim to Las Vegas, NV, as service manager, where he spent two years. He then bought a franchise and opened Stewart Hardware in Wickenburg, AZ, which he ran for 16 years, during which time he made many good friends and grew to love Wickenburg.
Jim served for 11 years on the Downtown Revitalization Board and as Chairman for four years. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce and as a Rotarian, serving a term as President.
Jim was a working cowboy for Halls Ranches in Monticello every summer after his retirement. He rode with the Desert Caballeros for 10 years and served on their Board of Directors for three years. He was named All Around Cowboy on one ride.
He rode with the Verde Vaqueros and with the Desert Stags. He formed a couples ride for which he pre-rode trails, led rides and cooked lunches.
He also rode with the Saddle Mountain Club in the San Rafael Valley, with the Los Vaqueros de la Tierra Rotary Ride out of Tucson and with the Arizona QHA, the Cabellos del Sol, five years on rides in Monument Valley and four years with the White Mountain group.
He served on the trails committee for the Hospital Ride. He was also a contributor and participant in the Partnership to save the Boyd Ranch.
Kathy and Jim have a summer home in Monticello.
There will be no services at this time. There will be a celebration of life for Jim in the Fall. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Wickenburg Conservation Foundation for Trails, P.O. Box 20008, Wickenburg, AZ 85358, the ALS Foundation, 4643 E. Thomas Rd. Ste 1, Phoenix, AZ 85018 or a charity of your choice.
Friends may offer online condolences at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com Arrangements under the directions of Wickenburg Funeral Home & Crematory.