The daughter of Galen Coates and Edith Carnahan Eddy, she attended public school in Havensville, KS, and college at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, where she met Lawrence M. Stewart, Jr. in 1951. They were married July 13, 1952. The Stewarts have four children Lawrence M. III, Lance Eddy, Laraine Ann and Lanesa Joy.

The Stewarts moved to Marshalltown, IA, in 1959, when Lawrence was hired at the Mental Health Center of Central Iowa. Mary was active in the First United Methodist Church, and served as a Sunday school teacher there for thirty years. After being involved in the Marshall Co. Council of Churches and Churches United for Compassion and Concern, she was honored by being named Marshalltown Woman of the Year in Religion by the YMCA. Passionate for peace, she was a member of the Beyond War movement and served as Chair of Marshall County Peace Fellowship. She was employed by the MCSD as a para-educator for twenty-seven years. She worked as the librarian at Rogers Elementary School for the majority of her career. Mary was an avid reader and writer. She wrote and self- published several books and articles. Her love of books and reading continued even in retirement, as she kept the shelves stocked and organized at the Village Co-Op where they resided. She also enjoyed these retired years, helping raise her great grandchildren, Aidan and Brooke. Mary spent most every morning sitting on the patio, enjoying her coffee and nature.

She is survived by her husband, Lawrence, of Marshalltown, Iowa; son, Lawrence III (Amy Ginsberg), of Delmar, NY; Son, Lance Stewart, of Kansas City, KS; Daughter, Laraine (Fred Sly) Gallatin, TN; Lanesa (Dan Webber), of Marshalltown, Iowa; Sister, Gail Stern, of Manhattan Beach, CA. Grandchildren: Leigh Gearhart (Korey); Lindsay Grandstaff (Shane Andrews), Cherie’ Webber, Aaron Webber, Travis Webber, Stephanie Webber, Derek Webber (Kayla), Josh Webber (Megan), Destiny Webber (Brian), Chris Kuhl (Melissa), Michael Kuhl (Olivia), Nick Kuhl (Heidi), Ben Stewart (Carolyn), Laurel Stewart (Patrick Johnson), Alexandra Stewart (Kevin Want); Great Grandchildren: Kole, Kiley, Tyler, Aidan, Brooke, Jaxson, Rowan, Halen, Kira, Camryn, Atticus, Warren, Rosemary, Aubrey, Brayden, Grady, Nikolai, Declan, Kamryn, Kaidin, Kiara, Jackson, Kaelynn, Lillian, Olivia, Lucas and Logan; Great-great grandchildren Maria and Kannon.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her brother Steven Kent, her sister Nora Smith and her mother and father-in-law, Lawrence and Dorothy Stewart and a host of other angels.

–Lovingly written by Mary and her family