Philip Arnett Stewart

Philip Arnett (Phil) Stewart, aged 79, passed away on July 1, 2017, at the Olathe Hospice House. Phil was born in Paola, Kansas, to Flavius and Florine (Arnett) Stewart on May 29, 1938. He was the youngest of their three children. Phil attended the Paola schools, graduating from Paola High School in 1956. He attended Ottawa University and Park College before graduating from the University of Montana. He began his teaching career in Bigfork, Montana, and subsequently taught in Oregon and Missouri before returning to Paola, where he taught mathematics at the high school for 19 years before his retirement. Phil and his wife, Mary Ann (Gibbins) Stewart, recently celebrated their fifty-ninth wedding anniversary. Their family includes four children. Phil’s primary interest was in antiques and their history, particularly antique bottles, antique paper and advertising and old sheet music. Sheet music collecting led him to a special interest in Charles L. Johnson, an early ragtime composer from Kansas City. He researched and published a book of Johnson’s life and music and compiled and published two folios of Johnson’s music. A long-time source of pride for Phil was his attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Survivors include wife Mary Ann, of the home; son Ed and daughter-in-law Kelly, of Paola; daughter Barbara, of Topeka, Kansas; son John of Columbia, South Carolina and son Bob of Mission, Kansas, as well as granddaughter Sarah (Stewart) Watson, her husband Mike and their children Anna and Caleb, of Wichita, Kansas, and grandson Neal and wife Allison of Simi Valley, California. Also surviving are two nieces, Kathy (Bond) Altaras of Dallas, Texas and Rebecca (Bond) Hladky of Overland Park, Kansas. Preceding Phil in death were his parents, his brother Robert A. Stewart, his sister Elizabeth E. (Stewart) Bond and daughter-in-law Marian Sheeran. A family memorial gathering will be held at a later date. The family suggests that any memorials made in Phil’s name be directed, in care of the Dengel and Son Funeral Home, to the Olathe Hospice, for whom they have the deepest gratitude. To share your memories of Phil or leave a condolence message for his family, please click the share a memory button.