Jean Howell (Stewart) Tutt

Jean Howell (Stewart) Tutt, 91, of Gainesville entered the Kingdom of Heaven on April 6, 2020.

Jean was born on Sept. 10, 1928, to James Quilbert Stewart, Sr. and Vera Ellen (Howell) Stewart in Dodd City, Texas. The Stewarts ran a boarding house in Dodd City for many years serving railroad workers and train travelers. In 1943 the family moved to Gainesville where Jean’s parents operated small neighborhood grocery stores over several years on Witherspoon and Scott streets and later on Grand Avenue.

Jean was a 10th-grader when she began attending Gainesville High School, where she met the love of her life, Emory Harold Tutt. Jean and Harold were married on Aug. 29, 1948, and recently celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary.

Jean accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at a young age and lived a life of faith. We can only imagine her glorious arrival into the arms of the Savior and her Heavenly reunion with beloved family and friends. We look forward to seeing her again one day.

Service to her church was a hallmark of Jean’s life.  The Stewart family joined Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gainesville soon after it opened in 1948 and Jean and Harold’s wedding would be the first at the church, where they would remain faithful members for 71 years.

Jean was a devoted mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. She lived a life of service to others. She visited friends daily (popping in and out for coffee), picked up people for church, delivered food to families, and helped with church activities. If you needed Jean she was there.

Jean held several jobs in town over the years — the State Theater, JCPenney and Sears. Her most loved position, however, was the one of teacher at the Gainesville Christian Kindergarten at Westminster, where she taught for 37 years. Sharing Christ with generations of children is among her greatest legacies.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, James Quilbert Stewart, Jr. She is survived by her husband Harold Tutt of Gainesville; son Rick Tutt of Montgomery, TX; son Steven Tutt of Raton, NM; daughter Lea Ann Woodard of Coppell, TX; grandchildren Katie Woodard of Denton, TX and Sunshine Tutt of Malibu, CA.

A graveside will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 14, 2020 in New Resthaven Cemetery with Darrell McIntyre officiating.  Mrs. Tutt will be available for public viewing at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home on Monday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.