October 3, 1927 – December 22, 2021
Barbara Nell Billingsley Stewart peacefully returned to Heaven on December 22, 2021, at her daughter’s home in Queen Creek, AZ. She was born in Pima, AZ on October 3, 1927, to Margaret Nell Beedle Billingsley and Thomas Billingsley. She was the oldest of 8 children and spent her childhood in Pima and Globe, Arizona. She married Don Stewart on December 6, 1944, and lived in San Francisco, San Diego and Honolulu as he served in the Navy and fought in World War II. At the end of Don’s service, they returned to Globe with their 2-year-old daughter Donna to be near family. They welcomed two more children and lived together in Globe until Don’s death in 1992.
Barbara was a wonderful wife and homemaker but she also worked for many years at JC Penney in Miami and then as an Eligibility Specialist for the State of Arizona. In the early 1980s she and Donna purchased an arts and crafts business and Barbara put her artistic ability and talent to work at their Hobby Shop and Wedding Planning business. When she wasn’t working or watching grandchildren, she and Don traveled in their RV and square-danced across Arizona. They also bought a cabin with their family in the Pinal Mountains and spent a lot of time there making it a home-away-from-home.
Barbara loved her large family and her sisters were her best friends. When most of their children were grown, they started a very exclusive club allowing in only sisters and sisters-in-laws and they made wonderful memories traveling, visiting, learning, working on projects, talking and just loving life and each other.
Barbara loved her family dearly and was happiest when she was with any of them. She is survived by her three children Donna (Jerry Fountain), Don her favorite (Kathie Bright Stewart), and Patti (Mike Hocking), eight grandchildren, 17 ½ great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She lived a life of service to her family, friends and neighbors. She served in the Temple, cared for grandchildren, took meals to neighbors, tied hundreds of blankets for foster children and sat with and took care of friends as they grew old. She was a listening ear who took many secrets with her, a soft shoulder to cry on, and a tender heart. As she lost her ability to see or walk, she still always asked what she could do to help. When the emergency room doctor asked her why she wouldn’t use her walker after one of her many falls, she said she would when she got old, but not now. She was 91. Shortly after her 94th birthday she said she didn’t have much longer left on earth. Not more than 10 years, anyway. She will be missed.
