SALLY STEWART

STEWART, Sally Elizabeth Smith
March 23, 1928 – April 6, 2016
Sally Elizabeth Smith Stewart (nee Smith), explorer, writer, cook, politician and inspiration to all who met her died on April 6, 2016 at the age of 88. To state that hers was a life well lived is a vast understatement for her heartbroken family. She was born in Evansburg, AB where her parents John and Marie Smith homesteaded. Armed with a sharp mind and a keen wit, Sally met and married her match in Neil Stewart on February 3, 1951, forming a loving partnership that would last until death finally parted them. They supported each other in absolutely every endeavour. After having four children, Lynne (Paul Schaller), Mark (Vivienne Carson), Miles (Aime Stewart) and Lesley (Len Scheepmaker), Sally was persuaded to run for a seat on the Strathcona County municipal council representing Sherwood Park and won her first campaign in 1965. Neil was her biggest supporter as she became the first woman to sit on the council and one of very few across Alberta to that point. She also served on the school board and the board of governors for Grant MacEwan Community College (now MacEwan University), and was the campaign manager for federal and provincial candidates before later selling real estate. Her passions, beyond her family, included reading, writing and cooking. She was also an avid walker. A legendary story in the family holds that her father, who never owned a car, once walked from Evansburg to Edmonton a distance of over 100 kilometres. Sally, who adored her father, walked or hiked almost every day for most of her life in the company of family, friends or forging a path on her own. A talented writer, Sally completed a thoroughly researched, 200-page family history tracing ancestors all the way back to 18th century Scotland and Ireland. She also wrote three editions of Cooking with Sally, featuring favourite recipes, and completed a touching 85-page memoir. We already miss her dearly.
Sally was predeceased by her husband Neil, her parents, brother George and sister Eileen. She is survived by her brother Hugh, all four of her children, her grandchildren Sean (Tara O'Donovan), Jennifer (David Low), Neil (Leana Keto), Mark and Michael as well as her great-grandchildren Abigail, Margaret and Saige and many loving cousins, nephews and nieces.
A service Celebrating Sally's Life will be held Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. at Westlawn Funeral Home, 16310 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Sally's family wishes to express deep gratitude to the doctors and nursing staff in Unit 4G3 at the University of Alberta Hospital and the staff at the Waterford of Summerlea retirement home in Edmonton.