Jane Ellen Stewart

Jane Ellen Huddleston Stewart, 79, of Cookeville, Tennessee, passed away at home on Nov. 5, 2007. She was predeceased by her husband, Winnell Stewart and parents, Ada Laura (Rockwell) and Howard Winton Huddleston, baby sister Virginia Nell and brother, Howard Eugene Huddleston. The service at Whitson Funeral Home in Cookeville was a celebration of a very special woman's life and the legacy of love she united her family in and left them to carry on.

She is survived by her children, Mitchell Winnell Stewart, Laura Ellen Huff (Chris), Kay Ward (Larry), Janelle Ivey (David), Steven Howard (Debbie), Amy Carole Vaughn (Chris), and Beth Jones (Victor); 18 grand-children and 11 great-grand-children. Her beloved sister, Wanda Willene (Nenie) Nichols of Bedford, and nephews John and Jim Nichols of California, niece Karen Nichols of Bedford, and nieces Donna Huddleston Strom and Cheryldee Huddleston also survive.

A beloved wife and faithful mother, Jane enjoyed a full life of activities including PTA, Home Demonstration Club, and Putnam County Library. Her creativity with fabric and needle was valued as she served as costume mistress for 14 productions with the Cookeville Summer Theatre. Her expertise as a seamstress led her to design and create numerous quilts for family, friends and loved ones.

Jane was formerly a bookkeeper at L. T. Stone Lumber Company and W. R. Whitaker & Company. She was an avid bowler, serving as an officer of Cookeville Women's Bowling Association and various leagues. She fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a journalist by writing the bowling column for the Herald-Citizen for many years. She was recognized with a National award for Best First Column by a non-professional writer.

Jane Ellen visited Bedford, many times and made friends. She loved to visit Gross' Orchard every year for peaches and apples, and made a point to go to the D-Day Memorial when visiting. Her twin brother, Gene, was a Pearl Harbor survivor. Even near the end of her swift and challenging bout with cancer, she made the trip to Bedford to see her sister and the Peaks of Otter, and hoped to come back one more time. She is at peace with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and on the hearts of her entire family forever.

- Published in the Bedford Bulletin, Nov. 14, 2007