Audrey Stewart said goodbye to her friends and family on earth Monday, February 26, 2018 and said hello to her Lord and Savior, along with her friends and family in heaven. Visitation will be Thursday, March 1, 2018 from 6-8 p.m. at Pecan Grove. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday, March 2, 2018, at Pecan Grove Funeral Home in Robinson. Burial will be at the Riesel Cemetery in Riesel following the service.
Born in Keyes, Ok October 12, 1927 to Fonzo and Luella Heckart. She was an avid basketball player in high school and graduated as Salutatorian of her Senior class.
Audrey married the love of her life, Karl P. Stewart and together celebrated 37 years of marriage. They lived in Amarillo, Texas before moving to Riesel, Texas where together they raised 7 children. She was very involved in her children’s school parties. Audrey was a member of Meier Settlement United Methodist Church in Riesel where she played the piano for more than 50 years, and taught Sunday School. She loved to play cards and did so every Tuesday and Thursday with her girlfriends up until her illness kept her from playing.
Audrey loved life to the fullest and loved to pull pranks and jokes whenever she saw an opportunity. She loved to play the piano and sing along with her girls and was always up for an adventure be it riding in her grandchild’s race car, her son’s mud truck or sliding down the mountain on a sled at the age of 87 because her grandkids dared her. Our mama never met a stranger and always had a smile to give to all those she came in contact with.
In her last days, Audrey continued to show her love for her family and continued to smile and grin at her animated animals. She made sure her never ending love would be carried on in her family’s heart by telling them to take care of each other and love each other. She was always able to be the best example of a mother’s love to her family.
Audrey was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Marlie and Rosalie Heckart, Keith and Wineferd Heckart, a sister Merle and Ted Reimer, and a step-daughter Carla Jo Stewart.
She leaves behind those to carry on her legacy, her children: Pat and Allen Bumelis, Claudia and Ronnie Dowdle and Bobby and Lee Ann Stewart all of Riesel, Paula and Gary Meyer of Holland, Sam Stewart of Mart, Janis and Garland Haverkamp and Edna and Edward Gambardella of Waco; 16 Grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 2 great- great- grandchildren, sister-in-law, Janis Stewart of Fort Worth, and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Kevin Dowdle, Warren Stewart, Randy Stewart, Kyle Dowdle, Michael Stewart, Jonathan Bumelis, Travis Haverkamp, Anthony Bumelis and Daniel Stewart. Honorary pallbearers will be Kim Bentson, Wendy Wilson, Manda Koepp, Kristi Michaelis, Shannon Herod, Paul Gambardella, and Matthew Gambardella.
Those wanting to send a memorial please send to Meier Settlement UMC, P.O. Box 96, Riesel, Texas 76682.