Hamilton Crossroads will lay to rest one of its most prominent and dedicated citizens at 11 a.m. today Hamilton Crossroads Church of Christ Cemetery.

Stuart Arn, who was president of Carter Brothers Manufacturing Company for many years, died on Monday after a long illness.

Elaine Phelps was the bookkeeper for Carter Brothers for 33 years and “thought the world” of Arn.

“Stuart was a very likeable person and the smartest man that I have ever known,” Phelps said. “All of the employees thought a lot of him and he really seemed to care about them.”

When a tornado nearly destroyed Carter Brothers in 1989, Phelps said Arn was committed to building the business back because so many people in the community depended on it for their livelihoods.

“Stuart was anxious to get the construction underway,” Phelps said. “He was instrumental in building the modern facility for the business. He was dedicated to Carter Brothers and to the community.”

Phelps said most of Arn’s focus and energy was directed toward Carter Brothers.

“He did some fishing but mainly he enjoyed his work and his relationships with the employees.”

Arn was an active Rotarian during the late 1970s and the 1980s.

He was president of the Brundidge Rotary Club during 1983-84 and remained an active member until the 1989 tornado devastated Carter Brothers.

“At that time, Stuart had to resign from the Rotary Club because he was so involved in the rebuilding of Carter Brothers,” said Rotarian Chip Wallace. “He was an active and involved member of the Brundidge Rotary Club for many years.”

Teresa Colvin, a family member, said Arn was a strong supporter of many community events and activities but never wanted to be in the spotlight.

“Stuart did so many things that people never knew about,” she said. “He was a dedicated supporter of the Boy Scout program, and although he was not a Shriner, he supported the local Shrine Club.”

Arn, along with his wife, June Carter Arn, was a longtime supporter of the Humane Society of Pike County.

“Stuart pumped a lot of money into Pike County over the years,” Colvin said. “He always donated to local fundraisers and many times gave Carter Brothers’ go-carts to organizations as prizes in drawings or raffles.”

Colvin said Arn was a good man with a good heart.

Arn is survived by his wife, June, son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and Sally Arn, and a granddaughter, Elizabeth Arn.