Billy Stewart

Minn. Billy Stewart, 88, died on Sunday, March 9, 2014, of natural causes at St. Marys Campus, Mayo Clinic Hospitals in Rochester, Minn., where he had been a patient this past week. Billy was born on June 6, 1925 in Warren County, Tenn. to Joseph and Lena Gulley Stewart. He grew up in Chattanooga and attended high school there. He was employed to drive service vehicles at Lane Ambulance Service and at Lane Funeral Home in Chattanooga. He began his truck driving career in the New York and Pennsylvania area. He owned and operated his own trucks and leased them as well. He entered into a lease contract with International Transport (now Schneider Trucking) in Rochester, Minn., driving for a number of years, until his retirement in 1991. Billy moved to Stewartville, where he made his home for the past 40 years and enjoyed living in Holiday,FL. in the winter. He was a member of American Legion Post 173 in Holiday. He was an avid reader and was a regular at the Stewartville Public Library. He enjoyed exercise, watching the Vilkings and was a Nascar fan. Billy is survived by two sisters, Mary S. Gregg, of Chattanooga, and Judy Murphy, of New Port Richey, Fla.; special friends, Mark and Janna Sistad Family, of Stewartville and Paul (Jeanne) DiLaura, of Rochester, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Myrtie Pierce; and a brother, James Stewart. A celebration of Billys life will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2014, at American Legion Post 164 in Stewartville. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville. www.griffin-gray.com.