Keith Steward

David Keith Steward, 65, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2026, in Canton, Texas. Born on June 13, 1960, at the U.S. Naval Air Base on Whidbey Island in Washington, Keith lived a life defined by dedication to his family, faith, and passion for craftsmanship.

Keith's journey into the automotive world began during his junior year of high school. This early interest grew into a lifelong career that spanned decades. He honed his skills at Payton Wright Ford and Richard's Body Shop in Grapevine, Texas, before relocating to Canton. There, Keith established his own business, where for over 30 years his main focus was car repair, custom work and restoration. But he was known to repair and restore just about anything that needed attention— trucks, motorcycles, church buses, antique Coke machines, jukeboxes, boats, buildings, and even pools. He also worked on supporting systems such as electrical, plumbing, and upholstery. If something needed fixing, Keith likely had experience—and advice—to share. His exceptional talent was recognized in trade magazines and admired by many for its precision, artistry, and creativity.

Keith's love for cars went beyond his professional life; he was an avid car enthusiast who enjoyed NASCAR races, swap meets and watching the Barrett-Jackson car auction. He also found joy in building models, slot cars, and trains. His hobbies reflected a wide range of interests—from sailing, traveling to Laurie's favorite snorkeling spots, building models, setting up model train tracks and slot car raceways to trying his hand at guitar playing. A fan of classic rock music, Keith enjoyed listening to artists like Jimmy Buffett, The Eagles, and James Taylor, but enjoyed a wide range of genres and bands.

Faith played a central role in Keith's life. A member of Lakeside Baptist Church since 1995, he served as a deacon and participated in numerous mission trips to Belize to help build churches. He also contributed to the renovation and construction of the church's Youth Center. Keith became a Christian at the age of 12 and remained steadfast in his dedication to serving others throughout his life. Known for his quiet strength, kindness, humility, and generosity, he was especially devoted to helping widows and the elderly within his church community and neighborhood.

Keith shared a remarkable love story with Laurie Steward, his wife of 45 years. Their journey began when they met at Carroll Elementary School in the fourth grade. They started dating at the end of their junior year in high school and married two years after graduation in 1980. Together they built a life filled with love and cherished memories.

Keith is survived by Laurie; their son Josh Steward and his wife Christina; their daughter Kadie Brown and her husband Chris; sister Kim Heitman, grandchildren Rynna Steward and Max, Margo, and Mabel Brown; nieces Jenna Champlin and Stacy Heitman; nephews Chase and Kevin Heitman; along with countless friends who were touched by his warmth and generosity.

He was predeceased by his parents David Eugene Steward and Wanda Fay Steward as well as his brother-in-law Steven Austin Heitman.

Above all else, Keith treasured time spent with family—whether it was playing baseball or creating treasure hunts with his grandchildren, who affectionately called him GoGo. He found joy in simple pleasures like watching game shows such as *The Price is Right* or *Let's Make a Deal*. His legacy is one of love for family, devotion to faith, exceptional craftsmanship, and an enduring kindness that will be remembered by all who knew him.

A Memorial Service will be held on March 7, 2026, at Lakeside Baptist Church in Canton at 1291 Kaufman Rd. Visitation begins at 2:00 PM with the service beginning at 3:00. In place of traditional black, the family invites you to wear something that celebrates Keith and the things he loved.

His family requests that donations be sent to these organizations in lieu of flowers:
St. Jude Children's Hospital - https://www.stjude.org/
Lakeside Baptist Church - https://www.lakesidecanton.com/give
Mike Rowe Works Foundation - https://mikeroweworks.org/donate/
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation - https://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/donate/