On Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, Ernie Stewart peacefully left the loving arms of his family for the eternal love and comfort of the Lord.
Walter Ernest Stewart is survived by Sandra Martin Stewart, who never left his side as he died in the familiar and comforting surroundings of their home in Foley.
Ernie was born in Pensacola on Jan. 20, 1947. He was the youngest of three children and received his formal education, elementary through college, in Pensacola.
He was a student of nature and loved the outdoors. He spent much of his life hunting and fishing.
Perhaps, that is why he chose agriculture as a career. He felt like he was the luckiest guy in the world because he was able to work at a job he loved and with people he deeply cared about it.
He counted it as a blessing to get up everyday and work with farmers in south Baldwin County. In fact, after meeting many of these farmers as a salesman in the 1970s, he chose to live and work in this area because he thought these men were so knowledgeable and intelligent. His customers weren’t just clients; they were people with whom he had a personal relationship for many years.
He loved his employees, always tried to treat them with respect and tried hard to make their work life enjoyable.
He married his high school sweetheart, Sandra Martin, and they celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary on Aug. 30. His devotion to her was unwavering.
In later years, after receiving the diagnosis of ideopathic pulmonary fibrosis, he and Sandra became a model of how best to support one another when facing serious health issues. For most of his life, he was rarely sick, but the last five years presented one challenge after the other. He greeted each challenge with a positive attitude, a big smile and a deep faith that God was looking over him.
He cherished children and enjoyed teaching wonderful life lessons. Sometimes, they were taught in a dove field; other times, in a peach orchard or just digging a ditch.
Ernie was a lifelong Alabama football fan and enjoyed watching games with his sons until the very end. As a fan of soccer from the early 1960s, he encouraged his sons to begin playing the sport at an early age and continued to support their endeavors whether it was playing or coaching.
He had many great memories of the Foley High School soccer teams meeting at his house for pregame meals. His love of soccer continues to be felt in the literally hundreds of children who have been and will be introduced to the game through this sons.
He was preceded in death by his father, Claude Chester Stewart; his mother, Alice Estelle Stewart; and his brother, Claude Williard “Tullie” Stewart.
He is survived by his sister, Renee Stewart Hedden and her husband, Leon; his nephew, Claude Gregory Stewart and his wife, Karen; and his niece, Patricia Stewart Prendergast.
In his immediate family, he leaves behind his wife, Sandra Martin Stewart of Foley; three sons, Walt Stewart and his wife, Beth of Decatur, Eric Stewart and his wife, Kim of Frisco, Texas, and Lucas Stewart and his wife, Jackie of Huntsville. He also has five grandchildren who loved their Dandy with all their hearts and will miss him greatly, Tait and Claire Stewart, Landon and Brooklyn Stewart, and Ella Stewart.
Services will be held at First Baptist Church in Foley on Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, at 3 p.m.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at development@pulmonaryfibrosis.org, 888-733-6741.
