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Earl Clead Stewart, also known as "E.C." and "Squanie" passed away on May 28, 2012 in Sallisaw, OK at the age of 94 years, 11 months and 16 days.
EC was born June 12, 1917 on the family farm at Akins, the son of David Clead and Allie Belle Ezell Stewart, commonly known in the community as ‘Clead’ and ‘Allie’. Both were born in Indian Territory before Oklahoma Statehood.
His father raised cattle, operated a small country store and was the community Postmaster for a short period of time. His mother, a homemaker, had over 75 hand made quilts at the time of her passing. At her passing each of her grandchildren were given 10 quilts.
E.C., with his two younger brother’s, Shawnee and Bill,
were reared on the family farm at Akins.
He told stories about growing up in the Akins community with people having nicknames such as, Hack, Tug, Cotton, Poke, Heavy, Blue Eyes, Toots, Josh, Wash, Snooky, Slim, Soap and Boots, to name a few.
He attended Akins Public school thru the 8th grade, and graduated from Sallisaw High School in 1936.
In 1938 E.C. and his Uncle Winsor Stewart moved to California to get rich. After about 3 months he returned to Akins because he was about to starve.
In 1939 he enrolled in Connors State College at Warner, OK. He attended Connors for 1 year before enrolling in Northeastern State College In Tahlequah. He attended Northeastern for 1 semester before enlisting in the US Army Air Corps in January 1941.
He had basic training at Randolph Air Field in San Antonio, TX before going to gunnery school in Kingman, Arizona. He was transferred to Mathis Field in California before going overseas. He was stationed in Italy with the 15th Air Force. During WWII, he flew 52 missions as a nose gunner in a B24 bomber over Germany, surviving two crashes, one st sea and one on the runway in Italy. The B24 Was commonly referred to as a “Flying Coffin”. He was awarded the Air Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf clusters and the American Campaign medal with two Bronze Stars. After discharge from the Army Air Corps in 1945, he returned to his home in Sallisaw. He later survived a crash in a single engine aircraft.
He was a certified pilot of single engine aircraft.
He worked for a short period of time as a case worker with the Sequoyah County Welfare office in Sallisaw, where he met his future wife, Norma Ruth Wood.
He entered Sequoyah County politics in 1946 and was elected Sheriff of Sequoyah County in November 1946. EC and Norma Ruth Wood were married on December 12, 1946 in Sallisaw. After serving as Sheriff he joined the Oklahoma Highway Patrol as a State Trooper, wearing OHP Badge number 174. He served as a State Trooper for 3 years patrolling State highways in Oklahoma, Murray and Creek counties of Oklahoma.
In 1951 he and Norma Ruth entered Northeastern State College in Tahlequah. Both graduating with a Masters Degree in Education. After teaching at Roland High school for a period of time, he resigned as school Principal and joined the US Postal Service in Sallisaw, as a rural mail carrier. Norma Ruth continued teaching at Roland until her retirement.
E.C. served as Sallisaw Mayor from March 1955 to April 1959.
After 22 years with the US Postal Service, retiring in 1984, he and his father raised cattle on the family farm at Akins. After his fathers passing in 1987, he continued to operate the cattle farm. He retired from the cattle business in 2008.
E.C. was a true Public Servant. Served overseas during WWII, Welfare case worker, Sheriff, State Trooper, Educator, Mayor and Rural mail carrier.
E.C. is survived by his wife, Norma Ruth Wood Stewart of Sallisaw, and two younger brothers, M. Shawnee Stewart of Tulsa, Ok and Bill L. Stewart of Tulsa, OK. | 
