Obituary of Lareta D. Stewart

Bakers Mills: Lareta D. Stewart, 95, of Post Office Loop passed away peacefully on Monday, May 24, 2010 at the Adirondack Tri-County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with her loving family by her side. Born on November 4, 1914 in Bakers Mills, she was the daughter of the late Melangton and Emma (Barney) Dunkley. “Reat” graduated from high school as valedictorian on June 24, 1930. She then attended teacher training classes in Glens Falls. After finishing, she taught at several small schools in the area including Sodom where she met her future husband Fred F. Stewart. The couple wed on May 8, 1937. During World War II she served with the Ground Observer Corps. At a small observer station in Bakers Mills, volunteers would spend time scanning the skies for enemy aircraft using posters on the wall to identify foreign aircraft. The Corps was officially disbanded on July 9, 1956 at which time she along with other Bakers Mills residents received a service award. Lareta then began working for the US Post Office and on January 2, 1958 became Bakers Mills’ official ‘Lady Postmaster’. She cheerfully gave residents their mail till she retired on June 29, 1979. From then on she and Fred devoted their time to friends and family. When Fred passed away in 2006, Lareta moved to Countryside Adult Home. In 2008 she moved to Tri-County Nursing Home in North Creek. Besides her parents and her beloved husband of 68 years, she is also predeceased by her six siblings. She is survived by her children, Fred Stewart, Jr., and his wife, Sally of Spartanburg, S.C.; Linda Hutchins and her husband, Gordon of Malone; and Janice Stewart and L.A. Satou of Arlington, VA; along with seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be conducted 11 am Friday at the Alexander-Baker Funeral Home, 3809 Main St, Warrensburg with the Rev. Ronald Allen, Pastor of the Sodom Community Church officiating. Friends may call on Lareta’s family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Bates Cemetery in Johnsburg. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Adirondack Tri-County Health Care Facility in North Creek or to the Countryside Adult Home in Warrensburg. Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guest book, condolences, and directions.