Obituary of Kenneth Marvin Stewart

Ken Stewart passed away at his Soquel home on December 17, 2011 with his children by his side. He was born in Quapaw, Oklahoma, and raised in Monterey where he attended local schools graduating from Monterey High in 1947. He moved his family to Capitola in 1952 where he was a Deacon with the First Baptist Church of Capitola and served on that city's Planning Commission. He was an accomplished magician and standup comic and very proud of his membership with the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians and the Magic Castle in Hollywood. He was a member of Sons in Retirement and Past President of East Santa Cruz Lions, Santa Cruz Host Lions and a chapter in Southern California. One of his proudest achievements was being licensed as a private pilot and the purchase of his Piper Cherokee. An avid Giants fan, he was a season ticket holder for over 30 years. In his younger years he was a regular at the old Capitola and Surf Bowls. Ken logged three "aces" during his golfing days and belonged to both Pasatiempo and DeLaveaga Golf Courses. Ken was associated for 45 years with State Farm Insurance as an Agent and Agency Manager in Santa Cruz, and later as an Agency Director in Southern California. He returned to Santa Cruz upon his retirement in 1995. He was very devoted to his faith and was most recently a member of Twin Lakes Church in Aptos. He is survived by his daughter Janice (Tom) McKinney of Corral de Tierra, and three sons, Dave (Mary) Stewart of Capitola, Mike Stewart of Soquel and Kenny Stewart of Live Oak, and two brothers; Ron (Margie) Stewart and Jim (Pam) Stewart of Monterey. He also leaves six grandsons; Ken Kimball, Matt (Natalie) McKinney, Phil Stewart, Stephen Stewart, Casey Stewart and Dylan Stewart. The memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 7, 2012, at Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos, CA. Ken was laid to rest in a private ceremony on Wednesday, beside his beloved wife Geri, who preceded him in death in 2000. The family asks that remembrances be made in Ken's memory to the charity of your choice.