Oscar Money Stuart, 87, native and long-time resident of Clinton, Mississippi, passed from this earthly life to eternal life in heaven on February 17, 2015, after a courageous battle with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. Mr. Stuart is survived by his wife of five years, Victoria Lynn Stuart; five children, Claudia Jill Stuart (L.W.) Shead of Anderson, Texas; Robert Milton (Mary) Stuart of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada; Douglas Bryan (Brenda) Stuart of Pomeroy, Ohio; Carol Joanne Stuart (Earl) Garrett of Ashburn, Virginia; and Amy Leigh Stuart (David) Stockwell of Katy, Texas, and step-son, William Cody Moore of Clinton.

He is also survived by his twelve grandchildren, Mary Renee Shead Monroe, Aaron Lee Shead, Emily Ruth Shead Heinrich, Robert Bryan Stuart, Joshua Daniel Stuart, Angela Ruth Stuart Hosken, John Michael Stuart, Earl Chauncey Garrett III, Jonathan Stuart Garrett, Camille Joanne Garrett Hicks, James Lafayette Garrett, Daniel Joseph Garrett; five step-grandchildren, Melinda Garrett DeTar, Dustin Rhodes Garrett, Sean Michael Stockwell, Sheri Rebekah Stockwell Tenberg, Steven Matthew Stockwell; seven great-grandchildren, Logan Athel Shead, Corban Lee Shead, Lillian Pearl Shead, Leldon Caleb Shead, Joanna Ruth Heinrich, Harper May Stuart, Kylie May Garrett; four step-great-grandchildren, Rebekah Michelle Stockwell, Elizabeth Robin Stockwell, Natalie Ann Tenberg, and Megan Beth Tenberg; and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces, and their descendants.

Mr. Stuart was preceded in death by his beloved wife of fifty-five years and the mother of his children, Mary Frances Byrd Stuart; their infant daughter, Laura Lisa Stuart; his parents, Ruth Adams and Robert Ealie Stuart of Clinton, and by two sisters, Marjorie (Walter) Clark of Vicksburg, and Genevieve (Madison) Lassetter of Clinton.

Mr. Stuart served honorably in the U.S. Marines Corps and sailed much of the world just after World War II in 1945-46. After completing his military service, he pursued a college education, and married Mary Frances Byrd of Jackson, Mississippi, in 1948 while still in school. He attended Mississippi College, and then became a 1950 summa cum laude graduate of Mississippi State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology. Shortly after his graduation, Mr. Stuart was hired by Humble Oil & Refining Company (now ExxonMobil) where his career as a geological scientist and business executive spanned over three decades. He was honored with numerous awards during his career, for exemplary work and outstanding leadership in the field of geological reserves. Along the way, he and Mary Frances moved several times among Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, rearing five children, all of whom completed four-year university degrees and eventually married. After his retirement from ExxonMobil, he continued working in the oil and gas industry for several years under his own Black Diamond Oil professional consulting service.

A children's Sunday school teacher for many years and faithful member of First Baptist Church of Clinton, Mr. Stuart was a life-long Southern Baptist and follower of Christ, and had a lengthy history in Clinton. After the passing of his mother and his retirement in the 1990s, he and Mary Frances returned to Clinton, and lived in and lovingly restored the beautiful and historic civil-war era Stuart House on Main Street in which he was born and reared as a child. After adding a modern apartment and more square footage onto the home's old garage out back, along with converting the main house's creaky old attic into a bright and lovely guest suite and bath, the Stuarts often graciously provided accommodations free of charge to traveling ministers and missionaries (not to mention friends and family) with their comfortable "Carriage House" and "Elisha's Room" suites.

Mr. Stuart was an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman who enjoyed many productive excursions over the years with friends and family. His cooking skills were legendary with many exquisitely flavored Cajun- and Southwest- influenced dishes among his favorites. He was especially delighted with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and often noted that his most successful investments were those he had made in his family and their educations.

Mr. Stuart was truly a "renaissance man," who was proficient, knowledgeable, gifted and interested in sciences, English, literature, grammar, writing, music, poetry and art. His beautiful penmanship was greatly admired and he was well-known for his calligraphic abilities, artistic bent and penchant for story-telling and gentle-humored jokes. He enjoyed reading, gardening, cooking, traveling, beautiful landscapes, music, and a good game of Scrabble.

He was a capable, "do-it-yourself" handy man, a teacher at heart, a patient, wise, and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. A gregarious person, he was greatly gifted at loving and caring for and about other people.

A strong believer in Jesus Christ, Mr. Stuart's foundation for living was the Word of God, and everything he did was based upon biblical principles. He was conservative in his political concerns and prayed fervently for America's return to biblically-based Christian values and principles. He was a generous contributor to many Christian evangelistic ministries, churches and educational causes.

He was a trustworthy, faithful, brilliant, hard-working, practical, loving, generous man who loved and served his family and his Lord sacrificially, and with all his heart. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family, but they are assured of seeing him again in eternity because of the hope they have in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word.

The Stuart family is hosting a visitation at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton on Friday, February 20, from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. A memorial service celebrating Mr. Stuart's life will be held on Saturday, February 21, at First Baptist Church of Clinton at 2:00 p.m. in the Old Sanctuary, with pre-service visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m., and special music at 1:45 p.m. A graveside service will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to First Baptist Church of Clinton and David Stockwell Evangelistic Association.