It is with deep sadness that we announce Beatrice “Bea” Katherine Stewart, 88, of Waco, TX, formerly of Tours, took her last breath on Sunday, October 27, 2019.
Bea was married to Claude H. Stewart of Waco, Texas for over 30 years where they met at the box office of the Waco Hippodrome shortly before the 1953 tornado. Bea loved music, the movies and loved to dance. As told by her, rumor had it that there were bets on how long their marriage would last since Claude didn’t dance. After they married, they adopted their son Charles H. Stewart from the Methodist Children’s Home. Bea worked for H-E-B until she retired with them in the late 1980s. She always spoke highly of H-E-B and never met a stranger. Bea loved decorating for Christmas and spoiling her grandchildren. She always enjoyed spending time with those she loved. She loved to shop and have an occasional beer. Forever full of zest, even at 88, Bea still managed to make those around her laugh.
Bea was preceded in death by Claude in 1987. Bea is survived by sister Genie Staggs of Irving, TX, brother Billy Holzer of Truth of Consequences, NM, son Charles Stewart (Nikki) of Rockwall, TX, and grandchildren Katie Dawson (Rhett) of Waco, TX, and Jared Stewart of Farmers Branch, TX, including several nieces, nephews and extended family members from the Staggs, Courson, Holzer and Regan families.
A small private family gathering will be held in her honor. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association at act.alz.org.
We extend a thank you to the loving staff at The Atrium of Bellmead nursing home. Also, a special thanks to Bea’s guardian angel, Paula Ripley, who always went above and beyond to love and care for our sweet Bea up until the day she passed away.
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Loved visiting with Ms Bea while visiting my mom, Alma Angle. Bea always called her Angel and always made us laugh . She was a special lady and was loved by all in my family. Go rest in the arms of Jesus who provided entrance to heaven for all who accept His finished work on the cross. Your work on earth is done, Ms Bea
Aunt Bea was a beautiful and caring woman. We have many wonderful memories of our times with her. We cherish our memories and will forever love our Aunt Bea. May she Rest In Peace with Jesus.
Love, Stephen & Teri Courson
May Aunt Bea Rest In Peace. I was blessed to be a part of a large family and Aunt Bea was my mother’s (Dorothy) sister . Aunt Bea and Uncle Claude would have us visit Waco and spoiled us rotten. Movies, go carts, new jeans. Thanks for their generosity and love through the years. Aunt Bea was a loving great aunt to my children and my grandchildren.
We were blessed to have her in our lives. She made everone feel at home and loved to have company.
Aunt Bea loved to have mom come visit her so they could be shopaholics together! Mom always looked forward to time spent with her lovely sister, and When aunt Genie and aunt Angeline join in, it was nothing but fun! They all loved to talk about their families and wonderful memories.
As kids, we looked forward to our Summertimes with Bea and Claude. They treated us like their own kids. We always had fun with aunt Bea and uncle Claude, especially when we got into the movies for free!
Aunt Bea and uncle Claude loved their Baylor Bears! They went to games and cheered Because they were passionate about their hometown team.
Aunt Bea will be truly missed. She was a light in our lives and all those around her.
Fremont and Colleen Courson.
Aunt Bea was a great sister to my grandmother Dorothy. I remember all the laughter between the two of them. I will miss her. Rest in peace Aunt Bea. Love Donna Couch
So aunt bea was a great wife , mother and sister. But most of all a great aunt to all my siblings. She and
Uncle Claude would have us at her house all the time and spend the whole summer in Waco. Mom would visit her all the time. She wouldn’t ever take a penny for meals .Just love spending time with her and will miss her very much. So I want to thank you for you treating us as her own children. We will
Always love ❤️ you and miss you
Aunt Bea was a special and lovely lady. She was caring, giving and had a wonderful sense of humor. She always laughed and had great times with her sisters. She was very thoughtful to always ask how I was doing. I remember she was always dressed to the nines and never a hair out of place. I think it was all the hair spray from her weekly beauty shop appointments. I was blessed to have been family and part of her life. She will dearly be missed. Loved in memory. Sweet Aunt Bea – Rest In Peace.
Aunt Bea,
You are such a hoot!
My first memories was as a boy when we’d visit you at your house on Skyline near the lake in Waco. You were the most charming of hostesses. You opened your home to a stampede of Coursons and we loved you for it. You see, you were my Grandma Dorothy’s little sister and Fremont’s (my Dad) favorite aunt. Dad and his siblings: Greg, Mark, Steve, Rodney, Billy and Kathy always had the sweetest memories of growing up around you. They spoke about your kindness and generosity. Thankfully, I got to know first-hand how beautiful you were.
In the 90’s, my young cousin Chris Courson and I would frequently go camping at Lake Whitney. It was a needed getaway for the two of us during those years. But it wasn’t complete unless we stopped by and spent time with you in Waco. (You told us that story about your unfortunate brush-up with that kook that blew up your mailbox.) He learned to love you just like everybody else.
Then a few years later, I started dating a sweet young woman who lived near me but was attending Baylor. Therefore, you hosted me several weekends as I visited my future wife right there in Waco. You and I shared so many laughs and maybe even 1 cold beer. Do you remember the time Jennifer (we’re married now) and you and I went to the movies and saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding? We laughed that whole afternoon. Surely we enjoyed LuAnn platters at Luby’s that day.
Once I had the pleasure of moving a piece of furniture from your home to Charlie’s home in Rockwall. You praised me to high heaven for my help but the truth is you deserved good things. Helping you and hearing your laugh was a blessing in my life for many years. (I even painted a room or two in your house back in 2003 or 2004 just because you were so precious.
I’m sad that I haven’t seen you in awhile. You were a ray of hope and sunshine at Dorothy’s funeral and I cannot help but imagine the little jig you’re dancing right now with here and others in the big dance hall in the sky.
Jesus loves you Aunt Bea.
We love you Aunt Bea. We’ll see ya soon.
So sorry to hear about Bea, she was a good friend of my mom, Jean Guyton. I am her daughter Debbie Guyton. She was such a sweet lady. I recently moved back to waco after my husband’s passing . Alot of good camping memories with her and Claude. My sincere condolences.