OTIS NELVIN STEWART, JR.

passed from this life Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at the age of 86 years and six months.

He was born in North Pulaski County on August 21, 1936, to Otis Nelvin Senior and Lois Evatt Stewart, both of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his sister Barbara Green. He is survived by his sister Carolyn Holt of Jacksonville.

Mr. Stewart is survived by his wife, Bobby Willard Stewart and children, Matthew Stewart (Laquietta), Sandy Hammons (Mark), Scott Stewart, Clay Stewart (Valarie), Gary Wise, Charles Sontag (Dea), Bruce Sontag (Brenda), Doug Frach (Andrew), Tom Sontag, and Shannon Seyler. Otis and Bobby were blessed with 18 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

Otis was a native of Jacksonville and was often known as a local historian. He graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1955 and had been elected class president by his peers. He was active in the Glee Club and enjoyed singing while in a church choir or going down the road in his radio-less car.

Mr. Stewart started his career as a bank teller at Jacksonville State Bank in 1956. He later moved to Dallas where he worked for Lion Oil Company. Upon his return to central Arkansas he was employed by J.B. McIlroy originally as staff accountant before being named a partner in the firm. He opened his own accounting practice in Jacksonville in 1971 serving local residents until his retirement in 2020.

Otis was a lifelong Baptist. He was a charter member of Highway Baptist and Bayou Meto Baptist Church. He was a member of Bible Baptist Church of Jacksonville when he passed. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and served as the DeMolay Dad for the local DeMolay chapter in the 1970s. He was active in both the Lion’s Club and the Kiwanis Club here in Jacksonville, holding leadership positions in both civic organizations. The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce awarded him as the 1990 Citizen of the Year.

Otis loved the children of his community. He sponsored and coached little girls’ softball teams for over a decade. He loved his hometown and wanted it to grow. He loved his state and ran unsuccessfully twice for the state legislature. He served on the Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities for six years. He loved his country and enjoyed traveling to many distant places always taking grandchildren or great-grandchildren with him. Funeral services will be held this Friday, February 24, 2023, at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 1:00 with the funeral service to follow at 2:00. Mr. Stewart will be laid to rest in Bayou Meto Cemetery.