Warriors come in all walks of life. Some live a military life; others fight battles on the home front. Still others serve their fellow man, giving back to their communities and families.

The folks of Warren County, Tennessee, lost a true American warrior. Last week, one of the bravest, kindest men I have ever known passed away. Mark Allen Stewart, a constable in Warren County, Tennessee, died of kidney failure.

Obstacles Never Stopped Him

Mark’s life was a study in overcoming obstacles. Born and raised in Nashville, he began life with a foot problem requiring several surgeries. What should have been an easy repair became difficult, doctors believed, because Mark’s mother suffered a polio infection while carrying him.  As a result, the child was left with a slight limp and a left leg that refused to develop as it should.

Through his childhood, Mark fought to live life his way. A mother who refused to allow him to participate in athletics, a father who wasn’t much of a Dad, nothing stopped him. He bought his first motorcycle against his mom’s wishes. He worked part time jobs when he should have been home studying. Mark bought his first car with money he earned and taught himself to make necessary repairs to it and to the motorcycle he loved. Whatever he got into, he made sure he became an expert in the process. He forged his own path wherever he went.

Independent from Day 1, Mark taught himself to create, repair and rework anything. His love of animals stayed with him his entire life. As a child, he brought home strays, tried to make pets of snakes, lizards and frogs. I do not remember him ever being without a dog for long.

The child grew to an independent adult, still searching for his niche in life. A failed marriage produced his son, the light of his life who he raised alone with help from his own mother.

When home, Mark always made himself available to help friends and neighbors in need. From helping them repair cars, to assisting neighbors following a tornado that leveled much of his Nashville hometown, Mark never said no.

One Christmas Eve, Mark dressed up as Santa Claus and made his way to my subdivision. With neighbors pre-warned, he wandered the street, peaking in windows and making sure children caught a glimpse of him. I’m sure many little boys and girls that night rushed to their beds to go to sleep so Santa would come inside.

Another year, Mark arrived at my home dressed as a Christmas tree, battery-operated lights and all! He was fun and funny. His nephews and nieces adored him.

A New Life in Warren County

With his son grown, Mark purchased a log house in Warren County and embraced a rural life that he grew to love.  Mark worked as a truck driver and technician who delivered medical equipment to hospitals and medical centers in several states, where he stayed to set up and teach the staff how to use the machines.  When he wasn’t working, Mark continued his penchant for helping others.

Those who knew him well, like his neighbor Jamison Crouch, recounted how much they learned from Mark. Mark taught people how to repair things. He would not do the work for them but patiently taught them how to accomplish said tasks on their own.

Jamison also told the story of a pair of squirrels who terrorized Mark’s home and cars, chewing wires and causing problems. Mark, ever the animal lover, refused to kill or injure the squirrels.  Instead, he chose to trap them and carry them to the other side of a nearby state park.

The Love of His Life

Mark met Donna, the love of his life, in a local retail store and they soon became engaged. With their children grown, the two looked forward to many years together.

The Accident that Changed His Life

One day while Donna was at work, Mark suffered an accident with his tractor as he worked in his yard. The tractor ran over him from head to foot, leaving him barely clinging to life as he lay on the ground. Mark was able to free his phone and call 911. And then he called Donna, not knowing if he would survive.

Part of Mark’s right leg was amputated; he suffered severe nerve damage in his neck, arms and hands and became unable to work, ending up on Disability. Many men would have given up at this point.  Our American warrior was not such a man.

Sitting around, collecting his Disability payments and doing nothing while his wife worked simply did not work for Mark. He set out to find ways to give back to his community.

How God Entered His Life

At Mark’s funeral when delivering the eulogy, Jamison Crouch, told those of us gathered how Mark became a Christian. While lying on the ground waiting for paramedics to arrive following his tractor accident, Mark said he heard a voice talking to him. The voice told him, “Mark, you have 2 options:  You can lay there on the ground and die, or you can fight. You can fight to recover.”

Mark believed the Lord talked to him that day, and he made up his mind to fight. He began going to church with Donna and chose to give his life over to Christ. This man, once unsure about religion in his life, now lived with a purpose…helping others.

Mark saw a need on his local volunteer fire department and joined them, volunteering for any fire-fighting jobs that needed doing.  Eventually, he became certified as an EMT, Emergency Medical Tech. Wearing his prosthesis, he went out on calls whenever and wherever he was needed. All of this occurred as he dealt daily with severe neuropathy pain in his neck and hands.

The remainder of his life included responding to calls that came in to the EMS Service.  If asked to take someone else’s shift, he did it. Whatever was needed, Mark wanted to help.  And he continued to assist the Volunteer Fire Department.

Two years ago, when asked to take over the remainder of a local constable’s term, he did so. Mark ran for re-election in early summer of this year.  Only after his hospitalization did he learn he won by a landslide.

After two months of medical treatment and surgeries, Mark Stewart decided to stop any further treatment and return to his home with Donna by his side. During his second week at home, county officials came there to swear him in as a fully-elected constable in Warren County.  Even knowing he faced death and would not be able to actually serve, Mark kept the situation light with his usual funny quips.

Even as he lay dying, Mark’s only concern was leaving his beloved Donna. He had said his goodbyes and was at peace.

At his funeral, story after story recounted the ways he helped the citizens of Warren County, as well as his neighbors and family. Mark, the man everyone knew as a kind and generous man, gave to the very end.