Emma Lou Stewart passed into heaven on Sunday morning, December 12, 2021 in Friona at the age of 93. Viewing will be held 9:00 AM Friday, December 17, 2021 at Calvary Baptist Church in Friona with Celebration of Life Services beginning at 10:00 AM with Rev. Brett Hoyle, Rev. D.J. Lewis and Rev. Gary Johnson, officiating. Burial next to her beloved husband following in the Friona Cemetery by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.

Emma Lou was born September 4, 1928 to Willie E. "Bill" Smith and Mary Azlea Smith. She married Charles Allen Stewart on June 1, 1945. They lived for a short time in Amarillo, while Allen attended watchmaker's school, and then moved to Hereford, residing there until their move to Friona in 1948, where they opened Allen's Jewelry Store.

Emma Lou and Allen worked together in the jewelry store on Main Street for 35 years, closing the store and retiring in 1983. For decades, Allen's Jewelry was the Friona place to go for watch repair, rings, watches, bracelets, necklaces, wedding china, and a multitude of fine gifts. Emma Lou loved interacting with her customers and developed many friendships with Friona residents over the years.

After their retirement, they spent summers in Colorado. With a desire to see more of the USA, they purchased an RV and enjoyed traveling together. Later, they began spending winters in Zapata, TX where they delighted in their friendships and fun activities with other "snow birds" who returned each year to escape cold winter weather. Everywhere they went they loved making new friends.

Emma Lou was a devoted Christian and long-time member of Calvary Baptist Church in Friona. She loved her Lord Jesus Christ. She liked completing word puzzles based on Bible Scriptures and learning more about the Bible. Her faith was a constant source of comfort.

She enjoyed knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, and a variety of other crafts. She began a Prayer Quilt ministry, making over 200 lap-size quilts to donate to anyone experiencing a crisis, as an indication of concern and prayer. Many of these quilts were distributed through Calvary Baptist Church. It was a difficult decision for her to hand off the ministry to someone else about two years ago, when she was no longer able to continue it herself.

She moved from her home on Woodland Avenue, where she had lived almost 70 years, into Prairie Acres Nursing Home in September 2021.

Emma Lou was preceded in death by her husband, Allen, by her brother, Clarence Smith, and her sister, Gwen Lazo.

She is survived by her son, Robert "Bob" Stewart and wife Mary of Amarillo; a daughter, Margie Sanders of San Angelo; three granddaughters, Donna Kuchar and husband Rody, Sheryl Stewart, and Bobbie Jo Martin and husband Jimmy; two great-granddaughters, Savannah Kuchar and Britni Dozier, a great grandson, John Allen Martin; and five great-great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to Calvary Baptist Church, PO Box 276, Friona, TX 79035 or to Prairie Acres Nursing Home, 201 E. 15 ^th St., Friona, TX 79035