James Arthur Stewart

September 8, 1939 – September 26, 2026

James Arthur Stewart, 87, passed away on September 26, 2026, just one week after celebrating his 87th birthday. Known affectionately to all as "Jimmy," he was born in Albuquerque in 1939 to Alice and James Vickers Stewart. After his father passed away unexpectedly when Jimmy was just two years old, his mother Alice later married Albert Briley, who lovingly raised Jimmy and his younger brother, Richard.

Jimmy graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Arts in both Mathematics and English. In his twenties, he began working as a caseworker for the Welfare Department in Truth or Consequences. By his thirties, he joined the Internal Revenue Service, a career that transferred him to New York City. It was in NYC that he met the love of his life, Rosa Pimentel. Jimmy was later transferred back to Albuquerque, where he and Rosa built their life and raised their children. Following his retirement from the IRS, Jimmy found joy as a substitute teacher for various local high schools. He was so deeply respected by his students that the youth at La Cueva High School once staged a protest in his honor to keep him teaching.

Jimmy was profoundly loved by everyone he met because he genuinely loved people. He was a brilliant, sweet, funny, and uniquely kind man who possessed a rare gift: he made everyone around him feel genuinely good about themselves. His radiant smile and infectious laughter will be missed by all who knew him.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his father, James V. Stewart; his stepfather, Albert Briley; his mother, Alice Briley; his parents-in-law, Luis and Carmen Pimentel; his sister, Marion Bechdel (Emerald); his brothers-in-law, Peter Pimentel (Maruja), Mark Briney (Yvette), Edward Heyen, and John Sosa (Iris); and his sister-in-law, Miriam Heyen.

He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 54 years, Rosa Stewart; their children, Arthur Stewart (Kerry) and Natalie Stewart; his cherished grandchild, Nico Pimentel; his brother, Richard V. Stewart (Judi); his sister, Elaine Krieg (John); his brothers-in-law, Nelson Pimentel (Emma) and Alex Pimentel (Damaris); and a large, loving network of cousins, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.

Services for James Stewart will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 24th, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. In the meantime, the family invites you to share your favorite memories of Jimmy with them at jstewart.memories@gmail.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to the caring and compassionate profaessionals at

Trujillo Family Funeral Home

"Our Family Serving Yours"