FOREST CITY - Harold Nathan Stewart passed away on the 21st day of August 2016. Mr. Stewart was a 1960 graduate of RS Central High School. During his youth, he accepted Christ as his personal Saviour and was a member of Second Baptist Church Rutherfordton. After marriage and a career change, he joined Second Baptist Church of Shelby and later transferred his letter to Calvary Baptist Church. After returning to Rutherford County, he transferred his letter to Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Forest City. Harold taught Sunday School, was an outreach leader, and served as a deacon and chairman of deacon board. He was a member of Cleveland County Masonic Lodge 202.

Mr. Stewart retired after 40 years as a life underwriter for Home Beneficial Life Insurance and American General. The majority of his career in insurance was in the Shelby office. His nickname was the "insurance man". Later in his career, he worked as the district and regional manager and retired from the Charlotte office. Harold's job required a lot of travel throughout the years.
Harold enjoyed vacationing with family at the beach, company conventions, visiting different ballparks throughout the U.S. with his brothers. Harold played football and baseball in high school, and he enjoyed watching his sons Brian and Billy compete in athletics.

A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday August 24, 2016 at Mount Vernon Baptist Church with Dr. Scott Courtney, Dr. Jim Whitlow and Rev. David Rabb officiating. Interment will follow the service at Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday August 23, 2016 at Cleveland Funeral Services and Harold will lie in state one hour prior to the service at the church.

Mr. Stewart is survived by his wife of 54 years Brenda York Stewart; two sons, H. Brian Stewart and wife Crystal of Maiden, NC, William N. Stewart and wife Alisha of Nantahala, NC; four grandchildren, Alex, Courtney, Abby, and Eli; and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Joyce Stewart of Charlotte NC, Garry and Teresa Stewart of McDonough, GA; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Mr. Stewart is preceded in death by an infant daughter, Lisa Renee Stewart; his parents, Howard and Essie Stewart; a brother, Ronald Stewart, Sr.; sister-in-law, Gloria Stewart; and nephew, John Howard Stewart.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Mount Vernon Baptist Scholarship Fund or Hospice of Cleveland County
Cleveland Funeral Services and Crematory is serving the family.
An online guest registry is available at www.clevelandfuneralservices.com