Emery C. Stewart Jr.

Emery C. Stewart Jr., 86, of The Villages, Florida passed away on April 8, 2023; born in Grand Rapids, MI on December 30, 1936 he was 1 of 7 children to Mary and Emery Stewart Sr. He attended St. James Catholic school and Union High school in Grand Rapids. After high school, he joined the Navy where he kept the ships log on the destroyer the USS Hancock. After 1 tour in the Navy, he married Barbara Van Shoten. He worked 2 jobs and bought a house on a cul-de-sac to raise his 3 children Daniel, Kathy and Bill. He was able to secure a position at an architectural firm as a draftsman and after a few years he passed the state exams to become an architect. All the while, he was able to find time to coach his son’s peewee football team. He coached Daniel’s team for 7 years and Bill’s team for 7 years. Most of the kids who played high school football from 1975 through 1987 had Emery as a coach at some point. Emery worked long hours for his family when he had his youth and health. In his early 50’s when he seemed to have turned the corner financially, he had a stroke and had to retire. At that time, he moved with his family to The Villages, Florida for the next 30 years. Their house looked different than the rest of the homes in The Villages because he “spruced it up a bit” with his architectural skills. In 2010 and 2012, his grandchildren Mikaela and Dylan were born. They were the best gifts that could have ever been given. Surely, neighbors & friends got their fair share of grandchildren stories. Emery had a double kidney transplant at the age of 74, a triple bypass heart surgery a couple years later, lost his wife of 60 years 3 years ago, and got covid a year ago which took what little health and independence he had left away. He spent the next 11 months in emergency rooms, hospital rooms, and rehab units until he finally passed away, he never made it back home; he is in heaven with his beloved wife because he earned it. He struggled every day for the past year, he was very restless and uncomfortable the night he passed until about midnight when he experienced calmness and was able to sleep, 3 hours later he passed peacefully in his sleep. Both he & Barbara were the traditional parents you would see on TV shows like “Leave It to Beaver” where mom was always in the kitchen or doing things for her family and dad was always working to make sure they had a nice place to live or coaching football teams. They were always there and will be truly missed. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Tuesday, May 2, 8:30 AM at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lady Lake, Florida with inurnment to follow at Florida National Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home of Lady Lake, Florida.

Emery C. Stewart Jr.

December 30, 1936 - April 8, 2023