Althea Ann (Mcaffee) Stewart

Althea Ann Stewart, 90, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away in her sleep at the Gables Assisted Living in Ammon, Idaho, on September 21, 2023. She was under the care of Gables and Brio Hospice.

Althea was born to Albert and Phemia McAffee on October 25, 1932. She was born in their farm home in Darlington, Idaho. She was welcomed by her brothers and sister, Melvin, Amy, and Clayton. Dr. Jansen was assisted by Stella Evans (a neighbor and midwife) in the delivery of Althea. Later, Kenneth Leon, John, and Merlin were born into the family. Stella Evans assisted in the delivery, or delivered all of the children, except John, who was born in the St. Anthony Hospital in Pocatello, Idaho. The farm home was being remodeled at the time of John’s birth and Phemia was staying at her sister’s home in Pocatello. Althea lived at her parent’s farm home until after graduating high school and marrying Ray Stewart at the Logan, Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 25, 1950.

Melvin attended 1st grade in the Darlington School. Then the school was moved to Arco. Melvin then attended the Pass Creek School (2 ½ to 3 miles from their home) as did Clayt, Amy, Althea, and Kenneth, where they graduated 8th grade. John attended the same school for four years and Merlin for maybe a year. One teacher would teach all 8 grades. There usually was 14-16 students attending. The children all graduated from Mackay, Idaho High School.

On March 25, 1950, Althea attended a dance in Mackay, Idaho, with her brother, Clayt, and there she met Ray Stewart. He asked her if he could take her home at the end of the dance. Clayt was asked, and when Clayt was told that Ray was a nephew of Newell Anderson (of Darlington), Clayt said if Ray was related to Newell then he was sure it would be ok. When Ray asked Albert McAffee if he could marry Althea, Albert replied, “If you can wake her up in the mornings, it is ok.” Althea never understood her father’s reply as she was a very light sleeper.  After marrying Ray, Althea found Ray was hard to wake up in the mornings.

Ray and Althea lived in the Pasimeroi Valley and Darlington, Idaho; Salt Lake City, Ogden; Farmington, Utah; Hamilton, Montana; Lost River and Leslie, Idaho; Othello, Washington; back to Darlington, Idaho; Quincy, Royal City, Moses Lake, Spokane, and Four Lakes, Washington; Lewiston, Idaho; Pasco, Washington; and in the Spring of 2015, they moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho. Over the last 2-3 years, they resided at the Gables of Ammon Assisted Living in Ammon, Idaho.

Althea and Ray had three children, Shauna Rae, born in Hamilton, Montana; Allen Ray (Jr.), born in Shelley, Idaho, and Steven Dale, born in Othello, Washington.

Althea is preceded in death by her husband, Ray Stewart, (just one month short of their 70th anniversary); parents, Albert and Phemia McAffee; siblings, Melvin (Delma), Clayton (Veloy), Amy (Fred) DeCoria, Kenneth and Merlin McAffee; sister-in-law, Patsy (Stewart) Parsell; brothers-in-law, Gerald Stewart and Jay (Ann) Stewart; as well as mother-in-law and father-in-law, Jack and Ada Stewart.

Althea deeply cared for and loved her family. She enjoyed dancing, crocheting, sewing, quilting, gardening, cooking, and was a wonderful homemaker, always having a clean and organized home.

She is survived by her brother, John (Virginia) McAffee of Idaho Falls; her children, Shauna (Floyd) Bullen of Fairbanks, Alaska, Allen Stewart, and Steven (Judy) Stewart of Idaho Falls; grandchildren, Paula (Jay) Fulk, Susanna (Kevin) Kennedy, Brian (Kaycee) Bullen, Erik Bullen, and Laura (Brian) Stauner, all of Fairbanks, Teri Stewart of Selah, Washington, Aaron Stewart of Idaho Falls, and Stephanie Stewart of Yakima, Washington; her brothers-in-law, Bruce (Gwen) Stewart of Shelley, Idaho and Dave Parsell of Kamiah, Idaho; sister-in-law, Rella Stewart of Arco; and 14 great-grandchildren; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 21, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building located at 4363 E. 17th Street, in Ammon, Idaho, with Brother Jason Haws officiating. The family will visit with friends from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Burial will be in the Arco, Idaho Cemetery the same day.