Alvaree Ruth Stewart

Alvaree Ruth Stewart, 95, of Pinon, NM, met the face of her Savior on January 27th, 2026. Just three days shy of her 96th birthday. Alvaree was born in Hot Springs, NM, on January 30th, 1930, to Arvel and Ruth Jernigan. She spent most of her life on the family ranch in Pinon. She graduated from Weed High School in 1948, attended NMSU, majoring in Music (Voice and Piano), and was a member of the NMSU Choir.

In 1950, she married Andy Roy Teel of Hope, NM, and had two children: Vaughn Arvel and Anda Ree. Andy Roy died from a brain aneurysm in 1953, leaving Alvaree to carry on with two babies to take care of at just 23. In May of 1955, she married the man we all knew and loved, Slim Stewart, and added two more children to their family: Boyd Lee and Tana Ruth.

Grandmother, the only name we were allowed to call her for decades until her great-grandchildren softened her resolve, was an astute student of the English language. She and Daddy Slim never passed up an opportunity for a teaching moment. If you happened to ask a question such as, "Where is the gas station at?", they would answer, "On the a behind the t." If you know, you know. The two of them also enjoyed a mean game of Liverpool rummy. If Grandmother did not beat the pants off of you, she was not pleased. And she did win, most of the time.

Her aptitude didn't stop there; she was a tremendous cattlewoman and loved working cattle with her family. She carried a book with cow numbers written down, but didn't need it; she knew every cow by sight and every calf they had ever had. She maintained an exquisite garden that would put current magazine covers to shame and could have been a Horticulturist with her vast knowledge of plants and flowers. Grandmother played the piano beautifully, loved a good fiddle tune to dance to, and was an integral part of the local Weed Choir - making sure we all knew how to sing from our diaphragm!

Some of her favorite things were her cats, hummingbirds, the color red, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. If she was able, she never missed a basketball, football, baseball, or softball game, nor a school program or FFA Banquet. She was also a steadfast example of her faith and often told us, "Let go and let God; He will work it out." She truly made a difference in our lives, and we will miss her.

Alvaree was preceded in death by her first husband, Andy Roy Teel; her husband of 62 years, Slim Stewart; her son, Vaughn Teel; her son-in-law, Jim Steinback; and her parents. She is survived by her daughters, Anda Ree Pierce (Terry) and Tana Steinback; her son, Boyd Stewart (Melissa); and her daughter-in-law, Doreen Teel; eight grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Spencer Yaste, Brylee Holder, Bradley Cooper, Chance Yaste, Dustin Yaste, and Bradyn Partlow. Colby Holder will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

A potluck meal will be held at the Pinon Community Center (the Pinon Clubhouse), in Pinon, NM, at 11:30 AM on February 7th, 2026. The service will follow at the Pinon Cemetery at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Pinon Community Center (the Pinon Clubhouse).