James "Stewart" Smith

Mr. James “Stewart” Smith, Sr., 78, of Mount Airy, passed away Friday, August 24, 2018, at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson.  He was of the Baptist faith.  Stewart was born October 12, 1939, in Mount Airy, the youngest of twelve children born to Roscoe Claude and Maggie Boyd Smith.  He graduated from Mount Airy High School in 1958 and Catawba College in 1962 with a degree in business administration.  Upon graduation, he was commissioned an office in the United States Marine Corps.  After completing Officers School in Quantico, VA, in January of 1963, he served five years in the Marine Corps attaining the rank of captain while serving his country in Vietnam in 1966.  Stewart had a successful career that spanned thirty-three years in the hosiery industry as a sales representative and finally as Director of Research and Development.  He retired from Gildan (formerly Kentucky Derby Hosiery) June 30, 2007.  Stewart is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Harriet; four sons, Mark Smith and wife Lynn of Winston-Salem, Mike Smith and wife Donna of Mount Airy, Stewart Smith, Jr. and wife Tracy of Rutherfordton, and Kelly Smith and wife Amanda of Harrisburg; four grandsons, Zachary Smith, Stephen Smith, Neil Smith, Shepherd Smith; and a granddaughter, Xoey Smith.  He is also survived by a brother, Donald Eugene “Cotton” Smith and his wife Betty; a sister-in-law, Beadie Smith; a brother-in-law, Richard Gurley and his wife Mary of Idaho Falls, Idaho; and a very special friend, Jim Baity of Greensboro.  He was preceded in death by his father and mother; brothers, Howard, Jack, Merton, Glenn “Miffie,” and Bobby; and sisters Lannie, Alfa, Helen, Hazel, and Audrey Mae.  There will be no visitation.  A private memorial service will be held at a later date with inurnment in the Oakdale Cemetery Columbarium.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Western Carolina Chapter, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Suite 999, Charlotte, NC  28215-3220.