Nancy Karen Stine Stewart

Obituary For Nancy Karen Stine Stewart

Nancy Karen Stine Stewart, 75 of Fort Worth, TX left this world peacefully with family and friends surrounding her on Sunday, April 21, 2024.

Funeral services will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24th, at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie, TX. There will be a private interment in Ringgold, Texas following the service.

Family will receive friends from 12:00-2:00 p.m., prior to the service at the funeral home on Wednesday.

Nancy was born in Wichita Falls, TX on June 20, 1948 and is the daughter of Mary Nelle (Hawkins) and the late Ward L. Stine of Bowie, Texas. Nancy lived in Ringgold, Texas for her childhood years and had fond memories as told through her many anecdotes about growing up on the ranch and attending her one-room primary school in Stoneburg, Texas. Her stories often included times spent with her grandparents, most notably learning to play the piano from her paternal grandmother Vallie Mariah, from whom she received her first piano.

Her family relocated to Bowie, Texas when Nancy was 12 years old and she excelled through high school, not only in academics but also in many forms of music including leading and directing the Bowie Jackrabbit Marching Band as the Drum Majorette. Nancy brilliantly showcased her talents for baton twirling, classical dance, and her passion for playing the piano, along the pageant circuit. With a stellar performance of Deep Purple (by Peter De Rose), Nancy was awarded Miss Fort Worth, Texas, First Runner-Up in 1966. Nancy was also crowned the first Miss Jim Bowie in 1967 for the Jim Bowie Days Rodeo Festivities.

Nancy’s alma mater was Texas Christian University where she focused on her passion for music, including piano and oboe studies. After graduation in 1970, she developed a robust studio of private piano students and was the organist for many years at Azle Christian Church. She cultivated strong and lasting friendships with her Delta Gamma Sorority Sisters and later chaired several phenomenal DG Alumnae charity fundraisers, surrounding herself and friends with many-splendored geraniums of all colors and varieties.

Nancy always embraced an opportunity to “make memories;” she was boundless in her energy to create lasting memories for herself, and even more so for her family and friends. She always had an affinity for seeing and encouraging natural talent in others. Nancy was generous in hosting international piano students from every corner of the world, including Australia, Germany, and England. She would offer them insight to the Fort Worth cultural life as well as simultaneously teach them all she knew about cows and horses. One of her legendary mantras was “you can always sleep tomorrow” and was notorious for burning the candle at both ends to make sure memories were made.

Her kind soul attracted many different and important animal loves throughout her life: from Thomas the Cat, to Lucy and Bubba her dogs and more recently Bailey and Angus her lovable and determined cats. These furry friends were responsible for connecting Nancy to April Carper and Sarah Rose with whom she developed close friendships; they have cared robustly for Nancy in more recent years.

She is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Vallie Mariah (Myers) & Wade L. Stine, her maternal grandparents Artie (Young) and William G. Hawkins, her father Ward L. Stine, and her son William Wade Stewart.

Nancy is survived by her mother, Mary Nelle Stine of Bowie, TX; her brother, Herb H. Stine of Wichita Falls, TX; her son, H. Laine Stewart (Laura) of Weatherford, TX; her daughter Laura Kay Hughes (Bob) of Newton, MA; her grandchildren Charlotte, Charlie, Thomas, Edward, Mac, Grace & Catherine; her niece Meghan; and great nieces Ella and Erin.

Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, Texas.