Betty Stewart

1926 - 2023

Betty Maslen Banks Stewart passed away peacefully on July 8, 2023, she was 96 years old. Betty was born on December 31st, 1926, at Cottage Hospital in San Rafael. She grew up in Fairfax, CA with her parents, Kenneth and Ann Maslen, and her brother, Ken (d 2022). She graduated from St. Anselm School in San Anselmo and resided in San Rafael for 70 years where she raised her four children with her husband, Clayton Banks (d1980). Betty loved to garden, and to sing and laugh with her family and friends. She and her second husband, Philander Stewart (d 2002), were always up for an adventure and loved to travel. Her family meant everything to her and she remained close friends with a core group of women she'd known since childhood. Betty spent many months at Shriners Hospital in San Francisco from ages two to eleven and met her lifelong friend there, Beverly Sawyer (d 2022). She worked for Marin County Schools for 20+ years and was a volunteer at Kaiser for 30 years. Betty had a smile and a kind word for everyone and brightened any room she entered. She is survived by her three sons, Steve (Chris), Ron (Denise), and Mark, her daughter, Melanie, her eight grandchildren, Kevin, Ian, Julia, Jake, Travis, Forrest, Lilia and Ginger, her ten great granddaughters, her sister-in-law, Alice Maslen, nephew, Tim Maslen and his family, and cousin Frank Wheeler. Betty's door was open to everyone. She always made enough food to feed anyone who happened to drop by in time for dinner. She didn't believe in holding grudges, had no tolerance for jealousy, and taught her family the value of a good laugh, saying please and thank you, and treating others with respect. She loved the ocean and requested that her ashes be spread at Bodega Bay. Donations in her name may be made to Shriners Children's Northern California.