Marie Stewart

Marie Stewart (nee: Mullins), 93 years of age, and a resident of Sheffield, passed away Saturday, March 20, 2021, following a full and meaningful life.

She was born on February 10, 1928 in Pike County, Kentucky to John Harrison and Vegie (Johnson) Mullins, the eldest daughter of their 15 children.

Marie married Billie Burtus Stewart in 1945. The two were married for 58 years until his passing in 2003.  Billie and Marie were parents to 4 children, 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren and counting.

Marie was a member of the Toledo Road Church of Christ in Lorain and worked for Freezer Queen, Mueller’s Pasta and Majestic Moulding. Her interests included cooking and gardening and she particularly loved hosting family, friends and neighbors.

 Marie was loved by many and known to all as loving, generous and hospitable. Her home always offered an open door to all.

She is survived by her daughter, Joyce Kemnitz; her sons, Carl (Jennifer) Stewart and Mark (Sherry) Stewart; her sisters, Annie Fleming, Beverly Wright, Ella Ritenour, Rose Gibson, Moreen Tolliver and Shirley Mullins; grandchildren Mike (Amy) Maher, Tricia Stewart, Lonna (Tom) Brunner, Deana (John) Stewart, Mark Stewart, Burt Stewart, Adam (Kelly) Stewart, Brian (Ashley) Stewart, Meghan Tillie, Emily Stewart, Joe Stewart (Haley), Jessica Stewart, Chloe Stewart, Caleb Stewart and Chad Henry; 18 great grandchildren; host of nieces and nephews; many cherished friends and neighbors.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Vegie Mullins; her husband, Billie Stewart; her son, Gary Stewart; son-in-law Phil Kemnitz; her sister, Opal Fouts; her brothers, Claude Mullins, Logan Mullins, Burnis Mullins, Charlie Mullins, Johnny Mullins, Ray Mullins and David Mullins.

Public visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. at Hempel Funeral Home, Amherst.  The Evangelist Steven Cain, will officiate.  Burial will follow at Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst Township.

As difficult as it is to be writing a final farewell to my beloved Grandmother, Marie Stewart, it is an honor to do so. I have been privileged to know the love of this special woman well into my adult life.  It has been a gift and as she would say, “it’s a blessin’.”

Anyone who knows my grandma Marie knows her as loving, generous and hospitable.  She kindly welcomed any and all into her home her entire life.  She and Grandpa always offered an open door and along with me, I’m sure many of you consider your memories at Elfleda Street among your sweetest. 

Grandma loved to feed folks.  Be it family, friends or neighbors, my Grandma constantly asked if you had eaten anything and when you declared you had, she quickly denied it…”you didn’t eat nothin” she would say an expect you to get another plate.

Grandma was well known as generous and she never stopped giving. Remember how she would dig out her last handful of change from the bottom of her 25 pound purse if you needed it? 

And with every piece of her soul, Grandma loved her family and worried about us and prayed for us. She was so proud of us.  I recall how often she defended us... “they ain’t hurtin nothin” she’d lie while we proceeded to tear down the house. She could see past all our faults and make us feel like she loved us “better than anythin” she would say.
She loved kids. She called us “puddin” and “doll baby” and “sissy” in her sweet southern drawl.  

Grandma always said she wanted to live to be 100…and I know it’s because she wanted to be here taking care of everyone she loved for as long as possible.  It was her calling. 

If Grandma were here now to tell me what she would want me to say to you, I believe that she would want me to tell you that “it’ll all work out” as she used to say. She was a woman of faith who loved Jesus and she often advised that if we would “live right and go to church,” the rest would work itself out.  She would want me to tell you that she loves you and she’s proud of you and you gave her joy.  And she would certainly want you to “git somethin’ to eat!”

I rejoice today through my tears in the knowledge that my grandma lives on in Heaven as God promised her and that I will see her again. She wasn’t perfect, and God knows neither am I! But I believe that anyone who accepts the gift that God gave us when he sent his Son to lay down His life to cover our sin, no matter how great, will be forgiven and enjoy an eternity with Him in Heaven.  So I can look forward with hope to the day, hopefully well into the future, when my grandma will once again jump up from her chair at the kitchen table and hug my neck when I walk through that door. 
Praise the Lord for the gift of his Son and for the gift of my beloved Grandma, Marie.

God Bless you all,

Lon

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