Kelly O'Connell Show: Goodbye JR Stewart

In today’s show let’s give JR Stewart his due. Buried this weekend after a horrific crash which took his life after a very honorable career in law enforcement. Struck down in the prime of life by 2 crazed drug addicts who admitted smoking meth and heroin earlier in the day. Run over near NMSU, the 2 escaped criminals drove the wrong way on I-25 then cut back up to the service rd. There JR Stewart met his appointment with destiny. Ironically, Stewart died on a motorcycle after spending decades on a police bike. Anyone who knew JR enjoyed his company. Gregarious, funny, easy going and kind hearted, JR made a huge impact on LC. JR gave Sheriff Kiki Vigil a run for his money coming in second in a close election. He was again running against Kiki and many believed he would do better this time. But if the viewing and rosary and funeral were any indication, JR was a shoe-in for the next election. Oh well, the Good Lord has a way of interrupting the best laid plans of even the best men. Go Rest High on the Mountain, JR -- You were truly the best kind of officer there was.

J.R. (Ray) Stewart, 61, of Las Cruces, NM entered eternal life on November 27, 2017. He was born in El Paso, TX, son of John Raymond and Virginia Stewart. J.R. graduated from Las Cruces High School and earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from NMSU. He served his country in the Marines for four years and was very proud of his military background. J.R. then joined the police academy and became a Las Cruces Police Officer in 1979 and retired after 35 years of service. He was loved and respected in our community. J.R. served his country and community with honor and volunteered much of his time to those organizations he held dear to his heart. In 1977, J.R. met the love of his life Rosie Hernandez Stewart. Married on November 11, 2000 and were inseparable and lived an adventurous life. They were each other's rock and loved each other deeply. JR will be missed. RIP.