Raymond George Stewart

Raymond George Stewart, devoted husband and father and Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War, died peacefully at his home in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 21. He was 89. Reggie, as he was known, was physically active until recent years, when he was slowed by a series of health setbacks. Evelyn, his loving wife of 59 years, and his cat Mary were at his side at the end. He was born Jan. 28, 1931, in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Elizabeth and Joseph Stewart. He grew up in Ferndale, then a rural area outside Baltimore, with great friends who joined him in adventures that led to many colorful stories. His father was killed when he was a teenager and his older sister, Anita Hewson, and her husband, Tom Hewson, helped raise him until he joined the military. Ray was extremely proud of his 1950-1951 Marine Corps training and service. Following his discharge, he bolted his dog tag to the stock of his favorite shotgun, which he used for rabbit hunting in Ferndale. Later, he wore the dog tag around his neck at all times. Upon his return to Ferndale, he landed a job with Household Finance Corp., now part of the international bank HSBC. He also met Evelyn Heine, a professional hairdresser who lived in the neighborhood, and they were immediately taken with each other. They were married on Nov. 12, 1960. As he rose through the ranks at Household Finance, the company transferred him multiple times. Daughter Lisa was born on Dec. 7, 1961, during his assignment in Birmingham, Alabama. He and his family later were moved to High Point, North Carolina; Ellicott City, Maryland; and finally to Tampa, where he worked until his retirement from the company. In retirement, he held many other jobs. For years he was a popular actor at Busch Gardens Tampa Hallowscream. He also managed a golf driving range, co-founded Dixie Dock Co. and was vice president of Evelyn Stewart’s Florida Model Screen Actors Guild Agency. He found great satisfaction in paying the talent when residual checks came in. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and he liked fishing, playing golf, dancing and going on vacation cruises with his beautiful wife Evelyn. He was a member of Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church. Prior to that, he was a member and Sunday school teacher at Grace Lutheran Church. In addition to Evelyn, the love of his life, he is survived by daughter Lisa Leonard and her husband Scott of New York, New York; sons Kurt and his wife Leslie of Ottsville, Pennsylvania, and Bruce and his wife Anne of Bixby, Oklahoma. Survivors also include six grandchildren: Jesse Leonard, Natalie Leonard, Kaitlin Heine, Zachary Heine, Lily Heine Espinoza and Raymond Heine; his cousins Joan Verity and Karen Dungan, and her husband Karl; and his nephew Bobby Searle and his wife Kathleen. A memorial service will be Friday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m., at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 West Fletcher Ave., Tampa, Florida 33618. A reception will follow in the church hall. Burial will be at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. Donations in his memory may be made to the church. His family thanks his many friends and neighbors for making his life full beyond words. “Live Life With No Regrets”