Obituary of John Alan Stewart

John Alan Stewart was born to David Stewart and Beverly Haynes Stewart on October 6, 1962 in Dallas, TX. His family moved to the Stewart family farm Gallatin, TN when he was 4. He attended Goodpasture Christian School High School and graduated in 1980. After high school, he attended Lipscomb University and graduated in 1983 with a BA in German. John then obtained a MA in German from Vanderbilt University in 1986. His desire to serve others and be a lifelong learner led him to pursue a degree in medicine. He completed a MD from East Tennessee State University, Quillen college of medicine in 1991.  He then was a surgical and anatomic pathology resident at the Medical College of Virginia from 1991-1996. After practicing for a little over a year as a pathologist, he realized he wanted to be involved in direct patient care. John had a strong drive to help people prevent the illnesses and diseases that he could only diagnose as a pathologist. He then graduated the Family Medicine Residency at the University of Mississippi in 2001.

In August of 1988, he met the love of his life, Barbara Stewart (Miller), at a wedding. They had their first date on his birthday, October 6. After 3 months of long-distance phone calls and dating, he proposed on her birthday, January 27, 1989. They were married October 21, 1989. Together, they had 4 children via adoption. They first adopted Rachel (1994), then Anne Marie (1996), and in 2000 they adopted Mark (1990) and Michael (1990). 

John had an intense love for learning, languages, and the Lord. He could spend hours looking at the night sky, describing its contents. He understood the different dimensions of time. He loved to laugh. He was passionate about his family, nature, and living in Florida. He was kind and loving, and shared that with so many who met him. He had an unrivaled faith. 

On January 6, 2022, John passed into heaven surrounded by all four of his children, his beautiful bride and their Pastor in Port Orange, FL. He is now resting peacefully with his Maker, fully restored and healed.

John is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Stewart; his beautiful children: Mark Stewart-Vlasov, Michael Stewart, Rachel Stewart, and Anne Stewart; his brother, James Stewart (Jann); his nephews Brock Phillips (Melissa) and David Lee Stewart; his great nephews and great nieces Kristiana Phillips, Randi Phillips, Leveyah Phillips, and Christian Phillips; and his granddaughter Marley Raye Silva.

A Celebration of Life for John will be held at Family Heritage Funeral Home in Gallatin, Tennessee on the afternoon of Monday, January 17, 2022 at 1pm. Interment will follow the service at the family farm cemetery plot in Gallatin, TN. Visitation will be held at Family Heritage Funeral Home on Sunday, January 16, 2022 from 4 - 6pm. 

There will be a second Celebration of Life in Port Orange, Florida at Victorious Life Church on the afternoon of January 23, 2022 at 3pm.