In loving memory of Mary Elizabeth Stewart

Obituary

The Heavenly Angels called Mary Elizabeth Stewart (Peck) to her eternal home on January 2, 2026 while living at her winter residence in Bradenton, FL. Mary was born on January 24, 1944, in Campton, Kentucky and graduated Comstock Michigan High School class of 1961. She married the love of her life, William J. (Bill) Stewart and they celebrated 62 years together.

She is survived by her family, daughter Julie (Lindsey) Ellis, and granddaughters

Ashlee Ellis and Hannah Key (Matthew), great-granddaughters Brooklyn and McKinlee all of Grand Junction, Colorado, son, Robert (Lynne) Stewart, and daughter Debra Stewart, grandson James (Kaitlin) Stewart, great-grandsons Jaxon and Kolton Stewart all of Kalamazoo, MI, and brothers Jim Peck (Kathy), Larry Peck (Terry), Richard (Tina), and sister Jean Peck. Several brother and sister in-laws, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her loving husband William J. (Bill) Stewart, parents, Stanley and Bessie (Sargent) Peck, and brother Robert Peck.

Mary was known as Sis, mom, Gram and Beebs but her role as a loving and caring grandma and great-grandma was truly her favorite. Being the oldest daughter in her family, she helped raise her younger siblings, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and many others along the way, ensuring they had care and education. Many babies rocked in her loving arms.

Mary loved to bargain shop; her car stopped at lots of Goodwill and garage sales. She bragged about the treasures she would find. She was a homemaker most of her life and served on the Charleston Township volunteer ambulance service, a role she was very proud of. Mary will be remembered by many for her love of adventure to include skydiving and parasailing in Florida, snorkeling in Cabo, trips with her children to Colorado, Texas, Alaska, Washington DC, Jackson Hole WY, and numerous trips to Kentucky to visit her kin folk. She rode in a helicopter with a family friend around her Crooked Lake house and went on hot air balloon rides during the Kellogg Balloon Festival, several of which used to launch from her backyard on Ft. Custer Drive in Galesburg MI. She traveled with her husband to Brazil, Japan and Hawaii. Everyone loved when she made her famous Christmas sugar cookies, her passions were gardening, flowers, enjoying a cold diet Pepsi, and listening to traditional Appalachian Folk music. Her favorite holiday was Christmas and decorating with many trees and Angels. Mary enjoyed playing monthly bingo with her classmates from Comstock High School. Her words of advice to all of her children were: Don’t sweat the small stuff, love everyone, laugh always and most of all, live life to the fullest extent. When asked if she was afraid of all her adventures she always said, “absolutely not, because God has a plan and I don’t mess with his plans”.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a local hospice, animal rescue or other charity of your choice. A memorial in Kalamazoo Michigan will be held at a future date.

The ones we love are never gone from our hearts, they visit us in old stories, they meet us in our dreams, they show up in a song or maybe a familiar face, they speak to us in moments of decision, in times we know they would be proud, they live on in the good things we do for the world, and for each other. Author Unknown.