Clyde Everett Stewart

Clyde Everett Stewart endured as long as he could and more than most, passing away Tuesday May 25, 2010 of incidents of old age despite a stubborn fight to avoid the inevitable. He was 96 and one of Tom Brokaw’s greatest generation.

Born November 1, 1913, Clyde was raised in the farming community of Warren, Utah west of Ogden. From his family of 6 brothers they all learned the value of hard work and the ethical integrity of a hand shake. Hoeing rows of onions during the depression, they new times were hard but also enjoyed that everyone was in the same boat, and worked together in the community. Baseball games on Saturday afternoons halted all work and farm activity, where the 6 brothers played out the positions of their championship teams.



Clyde was a studious introvert in high school and a gifted athlete, giving us pause on when his first date might have been or if he ever did. Graduating from Weber High School with honors, he then attended Utah Agricultural College to start a degree in Agricultural Economics. Stories are told over the camp fire of traveling back and forth over Sardine Canyon in the old model T (sometimes backwards) and of many deer hunting weekends with his brothers; Ellis, John, Lee, Lynn, and Junior.



His schooling was interrupted during 1941 to 1945 when he entered the military for WWII and headed off for Radio School in Florida. It was in Florida that he heard Bing Crosby sing “White Christmas” for the first time. His training took him from Florida to Chicago, and then on to Corsica and Italy, and in fact still recalls the large and numerous aircraft flying over the islands on DDay. He still spoke with a heavy and joyful heart in 1945, about going to a concert with the Lennon Sisters in Naples, and their happy announcement of Armistice and the end of the war, confirming that instead of a month’s furlough and a boat trip to fight in Japan, he was finally going home to the farm. Imagine Grandmother Stewart’s joy at the news of Clyde coming home, the fifth son to serve in the military and the oldest. All would survive their war times.



For Clyde it was back to school at Utah Agricultural College where he received his BS and a Masters degree in Agricultural Economics. One semester was spent at Berkeley for graduate studies but we can’t imagine Dad putting on any tie die. Then it was back to Des Moines for his Phd at Iowa State University, again in Agricultural Economics. He played tennis and fished with his professors and loved his experience as a Cyclone. But in his heart he was always an Aggie, and as employment opportunities came around, he chose a job with the USDA to be stationed as an adjunct professor at Utah State University.



The USU campus would also be the site of a blind date encounter with his future wife, Cloteel Cecelia Riggs, a beauty from the valley and a talented musician who loved to sing and dance and entertain. Their courtship was short and they were married in July of 1954. The joined family would produce three children- Aziele Cecelia (Jenson), Franklin Clyde Stewart and Paul Riggs Stewart. As a family of three and before Frank was born, they had a short stay at Montana State in Bozeman where Cloteel would drive the finned Desoto across the plains so Clyde could shoot antelope. Clyde and good friends also spent nearly every Saturday morning dropping a dry fly over the Galatin, the Madison and the Yellowstone Rivers.



When the opportunity arose, it was their choice to move back to Logan to be on the USU campus and be closer to family and friends. This they did in 1955 where Frank was born and in the same year Clyde built their first and only home, across from the Adams School. This location would also become a trade mark of sorts for Clyde, as neighbors over a 6 block area recall the almost 50 years that Clyde walked up and down the Old Main stairs on his way to work and as an emeriti, where he would pick up the Statesman. He always felt that this was his main contributor to his long health; a long and slow melodious walk up 202 old main steps.



For 42 years Clyde worked in AG-ECON for the USDA and at Utah State, doing research and teaching. He was a regional representative for the USDA and traveled extensively on special irrigation ag. projects, including 3 month stints in Somalia, Jordan, Damascus, and Syria.



A member of Kiwanis all of his life, he had a record perfect attendance of over 40 years. This all happening as a million miler for United Airlines. He found a club and had friends all over the country through this association. He was a key instigator of new service projects in the community, right along side the Raymonds, the Hanceys, the Simmons, and a special friend, Joe Meyrick. One of these that he was so proud of was the “Hope of America “ award for top students in each of the fifth grade classes in the valley. Started in 1962, these awards are given out every year and in some years top 118 student awards. He was President, and Lieutenant Governor from the Logan Club, while Cloteel served with the Lady Kiwanians. We children grew up on Wednesday evenings, in the playroom of the Logan Lanes, where Clyde and the Kiwanis Club team rolled many a turkey.



Highlights for Clyde and Cloteel all of their lives, were the times spent watching their grand children at all kinds of events, from football, baseball and basketball, to dancing, soccer and family events. They nary missed a game and were almost a fixture climbing the stands at Logan High School while three of their grand children played sports of some kind for 12 straight years. You could count on one hand the ones that they missed.



Mom and Dad were 18th warders all of their lives and is the home where they raised their children. Dad held many positions but was mainly a financial clerk for 18 years with 4 outstanding Bishops. Mom was by his side in service as the ward and stake organist, relief society and primary presidents. They were together always in supporting the 18th ward on the boulevard and were indeed a strong part of a great legacy. While many of their close friends have passed on, the gracious and loving support and friendship of the Emmetts, the Larsens, the Bairds, the Maloufs, and the Hugies deserves a mention. Clyde would want that.



Special thanks to the patient and gracious workers, nurses and aids, at Legacy House Assisted Living, Alpine Home Care, Logan Rehab, and Sunshine Terrace. There are angels amongst us working with our elderly, and going the extra mile to take care of our old agers, no matter how crusty and cantankerous they might be from time to time. Thank you! And a special kudos to Dr Michael Stones whom Clyde and Cloteel held in such high regard for many, many years.



Dad always said that he loved the words of Yogi Berra when he said, “If you don’t go to their funeral, they wont come to yours”. We hope that you will come to his.

A viewing will be held from 10:30-11:30 before the funeral that will be at 12:00 pm at the 18th Ward chapel in Logan, on Thursday , June 17th . Conducting will be President Ted Nyman, Logan Central Stake Presidency. Clyde will be interred next to Mom in the Logan Cemetery with Military Honors, and Scottish Bagpipes. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.allenmortuaries.net



Thank you for reading Clyde’s obituary and for being his friend. Sorry it is so lengthy, but he was 96 after all. And as one of the greatest generation we will never see his kind of lifetime again, with world wars, a depression, the invention of color TV and Batman, and a lifetime of employment with a single employer. Mom and Dad were awesome and we will miss them but we take solice and peace that they are together again.



Clyde was preceded in death by his dear wife Cloteel, his parents and three brothers. Surviving are his three children, Aziele (Lloyd) Jenson, Frank (Nancy) Stewart, Paul (Suzanne) Stewart, 14 grandchildren and 18 great grand children. Funeral arrangements by Allen-Hall Mortuary.