Rufus Stewart

Rufus Derval Stewart, 91 of Fort Sumner, NM was born June 9, 1920 in Abilene, TX to the home of Earl Ross Stewart and Winnie Beatrice (Hale) Stewart. He died Monday, September 26, 2011 at his home. Early in his childhood his family moved with his siblings Eugene (Gene), Jerry, and Lucille, from Texas to Ft. Sumner, NM. Rufus attended Elementary school and high school in Ft. Sumner, NM. In 1940, he and Billye Audette LeCompte of Clovis, NM were married. In 1940, they moved to Pasadena, CA, and in 1942 Rufus was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was inducted on April 2, 1942 in San Pedro, CA; in October 1942 he boarded the USS Rochambeau (troop ship) to New Caledonia in the south pacific near Australia. There they built hospitals, an air field, drilled on Guadalcanal early '43; was part of a convoy for invasion of the Philippine Islands, served in Manila, built bridges on the island of Luzon, was on Leyte Island repairing bridges; was part of a large convoy to invade Japan after the bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but shortly thereafter the war was declared over. He was honorably discharged at the end of 1945. After he returned from the war Rufus and Billye had two daughters, Nikki and Stephanie (Stevie), born in Los Angeles, CA. In 1950, they bought their first home in Arcadia, CA. They remained married until 1968. In 1946 Rufus worked in a dry cleaners in El Sereno, CA then purchased it from the owner. In the 50's he purchased a new Chevron/Standard Oil service station in Arcadia, CA while his wife, Billye operated the dry cleaners. They later sold the dry cleaning business. Rufus retired in the early '70's, he later worked at De Bell Golf Course, Burbank, CA; and also taught children to play golf through a city program at Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA. He moved to Ft. Sumner in 2002. He began playing golf in the mid 1950's, it was his activity, he played the game as much as possible and played it until this last year. During their marriage both Rufus (“Stu”) and Billye competed in their respective golfing groups and both won championship tournaments in Arcadia, CA. He had hit a few holes-in-one, but a highlight for them was when they both had a “hole-in-one” on the same day. When he wasn't golfing he enjoyed reading, attending Ft. Sumner sports events, emailing, and teasing and joking with his friends. In the 1950's and 60's he was a member of the Arcadia Mounted Police in Arcadia, CA; they assisted in search and rescue in the nearby mountains, and they participated on horseback in rodeos, parades, and the horse shows they had each month. He also belonged to the Arcadia 3 Par Golf Course Men's Group for many years. Survivors include a daughter Nikki Michelizzi and her husband Frank of La Quinta, CA; granddaughter, Azurée Natice, and great grandson Liam Rogers, of Burbank, CA; a grandson Colt Gregg, of Willis, TX, and nieces and nephews and their children. Rufus is preceded in death by two brothers Eugene (Gene), Jerry, a sister Lucille; and a daughter Stephanie (Stevie) Gregg. It was Rufus request that no formal services be held, he told his daughter he “wanted her to spread his remains over a pretty golf course.” All arrangements were under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, New Mexico. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book, please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com