James C. Stewart,

James C. Stewart, Jr., 80, of 519 East River St., Orange, died Friday, January 2, in Heywood Hospital in Gardner. He was born in Cape May, NJ, February 21, 1923, son of the late James C. and Margaret E. (Owens) Stewart and lived here many years. He was a graduate of Athol High School class of 1942 and was his class president. His wife, Esther M. (McDonald) Stewart died in 1978. For eighteen years, he owned and operated James Stewart Motors. Following his retirement in 1984, he moved to Las Vegas and resided there before returning to Orange in 1999. Mr. Stewart was a communicant of Our Lady Immaculate in Athol and a member of the Athol/Orange Elks, the American Legion in Athol and a former member of the Athol Boosters, the Ellinwood Country Club and STEBS. He enjoyed golf, Las Vegas, talking at the local coffee shops and playing cards. He is survived by one daughter, Bonnie L. Stewart of Athol; his companion for twenty-five years, Natalie J. (Trenoweth) Russell, with whom he lived, two sisters, Marguerite Donnelly of Fitchburg and Cynthia Trinque of East Bridgewater, Natalies four children, Lynn Tepper of Manchester, NH, Patti Dodge of Athol, Sharon Deane of Orange and Thomas Russell of Ware, his sister-in-law, Elizabeth MacDonald of Athol and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Howard MacDonald and Roger MacDonald, both of Athol and two sistes, Dorothy Stone and Winifred Gormley both of Athol. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home, 137 Main St., Athol, Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 9AM followed by a Funeral Mass in Our Lady Immaculate Church, School St., Athol at 10AM. Burial will follow in Gethsemane Cemetery, Athol. Visiting hours at the funeral home are from 3-5 and 7-9 PM Monday. Contributions may be made to the Refurbishing Fund of Our Lady Immaculate, School St., Athol, MA 01331. For directions to the funeral home or to sign the online guest book, visit our website at www.murphysfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home, Athol. $(document).ready(function(){ });