Matt Sunday Stewart, Jr.

Matt Sunday Stewart, Jr. was born July 17, 1955 to Matt and Mable Stewart in Normangee, Texas.and grew up in North Zulch, Texas. Matt loved the outdoors and spent his days playing outside, riding tractors, exploring, fishing, and reading. Matt was an avid reader and was never without a book in his hand or on his Kindle app. He loved a challenge and always wanted to know how things worked; he would take things apart just to see if he could get them back together. This proved to be useful in his adult life as he became known as the man who could fix anything. After graduating from high school, he began working as a framing carpenter, another skill that served him well as he spent over 30 years as a carpenter framing houses and building custom homes.  

In 1976, Matt met his wife, Janis while riding through the streets of North Zulch. Matt was a man of few words and an introvert, but he didn’t have a problem flagging Janis down in the middle of North Zulch and asking her who she was. They went on their first date the next weekend where Janis met most of Matt’s family.  It was there she learned that one of his aunts (Janiece) had given him the nickname “June Bug” which was a nickname that stuck with him the rest of his life. This first date also happened to be Matt’s birthday. During one of their first conversations, Matt mentioned he loved lemon pie, so Janis made 2 lemon pies for this birthday. This must have impressed Matt because on their first date he told Janis he was going to marry her, and six months later, he did. 

Matt and Janis were married on December 27, 1976. They had one daughter, Sunday Kay Stewart Rowan, who was the absolute pride and joy of Matt’s life. Sunday died on July 30, 2016 in a hot air balloon accident and her loss took a part of Matt’s heart.  

Before their first grandson was born, Matt and Janis became “Paco and Jza Jza” to some of the children from their church. These church grandchildren were loved by Paco as if they were his natural grandchildren. Paco, a kid at heart, loved having them in his home at Christmas. Each child had their own stocking that Paco filled with fruit, nuts, and silly little toys. Through the years these grandchildren brought much joy to his life.

Matt and Janis’ grandson, Jett, was born in January 2011 and no grandfather could have loved a child more. Jett was the son Matt never had and they spent hours together taking walks, fishing, playing games, wrestling, punching and hitting each other, with Jett always thinking he could out-maneuver his Paco, but he never could. Jett thought his Paco could fix anything. Paco was his hero.

Matt and Janis were charter members of Texas Avenue Baptist Church (TABC) where Matt faithfully served throughout the years. Matt used his talents for the Lord by spending countless hours working at the church. When TABC built at their current location, Matt (as did other church members) would work his full-time job during the day and then spend his evenings working at the Church. When Pastor Doucet needed a new pulpit, he showed Matt a photo of one from a catalog and Matt built him a new pulpit which is still in the church today.   

Matt went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 in College Station, Texas. He was preceded in death by his beloved grandmother, Annie Rush; his parents Matt and Mable Stewart; his father and mother-in-law J.D. and Judy Touchton; and his daughter Sunday Kay Stewart Rowan and her husband, Matt Rowan.            

Matt is survived by his wife of 47 years, Janis Louise Touchton Stewart; son-in-law Brent Jones; grandson Jett Sunday Jones; sister Marianne Stewart (Rick Aderholt); brother David Stewart (Rinza); nephew Keith Stewart; niece Amanda Stewart; brother-in-law Joe Touchton (Dolores); nephew James Touchton (Samara); brother-in-law John Touchton (Roccie Soscia); Etta Rush (Aunt); Weldon and Janiece Andrus (Uncle and Aunt); and his hurch grandchildren, Jacob Doucet, Rachel Colgrove, Erica Doucet, Jackson Doucet, Rabon Bradley Metcalf, (the grandchild who gave Paco his grandfather name), Bailee Clowers, Kenzie Harkrider, and Sydney Mulford.  

A special thank you to Brent Jones who, after Sunday’s death, assumed the role of son. From that day forward he became the emergency contact, the next of kin, our person. Matt loved you.