Stewart L. Kedish

1942 - 2016

Stewart was born in Port Angeles to Thora and Arby Hufford, but he was lovingly raised by his foster parents, Dessie and Charlie Overholt.

When he was 12 years old, Dessie lost her battle with cancer, and Stewart was reunited with his birth mother and her husband, Ray Kedish, who formally adopted Stewart, changing his name to Kedish.

Stewart's first marriage to Judith Lynne ended in divorce but was blessed with one very special son, Brien, who now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife, TaraLee, and Stewart's only grandchildren: Denver, 17; Oliver, 14; and Fletcher, 11.

Brien recalls an idyllic childhood of countless hours spent with his dad fishing; talking about tools, guns, sports and life; or just riding in Dad's truck to a job site or to nowhere in particular. The sound of Stew's truck coming home from work was music to Brien's ears.

In 1986, Stewart met and married his soul mate, Margie, and gained stepson Kevin Baird. Stewart and Margie were inseparable, in love and incredibly content for the 30 years they were married.

A special vacation to Hawaii this past summer to celebrate the milestone now provides Margie with more wonderful memories for her book of life.

Stewart worked the shifts at Crown Z as a young man but soon realized his dream was to build custom homes. He was an accomplished carpenter, business owner and genuinely kind man.

Margie often said he was the nicest person she'd ever known while remaining a strong man's man who rarely complained about his physical problems. He never asked his crew for more than he gave.

He was passionate about real estate, Wall Street, conservative politics, hot dogs, guns and his Kubota. Stew loved to smile.

Stewart succumbed to a massive heart attack at home the evening of October 17. As a former heavy smoker, in his life, he had undergone two heart bypass operations, vascular surgery for impaired circulation and most recently was undergoing chemotherapy for bladder cancer while quietly enduring incessant pain from spinal stenosis.

This old builder had lifted one too many walls but had enjoyed every last project. His motto was "Never give up!"

In addition to all the custom homes he and Joe Tweter built over the years as Ked-Ter Construction, Stew and Margie built several fun spec homes in Port Angeles, decorating and moving into most.

In 2014, Stew's wish to move to the country was fulfilled, and their final home was completed with the help of the old Ked-Ter Construction crew, now managed by Rick Bradley, who learned his trade well from Joe and Stew.

The circle was complete, and Stewart was enjoying true retirement, which included the annual snowbird migration to Arizona. Home was wherever he and Margie were together. And one day, for eternity, they will be again.

Services will be at Drennan & Ford Funeral Home, 260 Monroe Road, Port Angeles, on Friday, October 28, 2016, at 11 a.m.