Donald Ryburn Stuart

Donald "Don" Ryburn Stuart passed peacefully at home on May 13, 2025 in Houston, Texas at the age of 74.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Weed and Elisabeth "Beth" Ryburn Stuart. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca "Becky" Stuart; daughter, Elisabeth Pieper and husband Nick Pieper; and grandchildren, Cate and William. He is also survived by his brothers, Jess Stuart, Dick Stuart and his wife Ginny; and brother-in-law, Robert Burkhart; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Don was born in Beaumont, Texas on December 29, 1950, the youngest of Jesse and Beth's three children. He moved to Houston, Texas at the age of twelve when his father accepted a job working for John Mecom, Sr. overseeing the remodeling of the Warwick Hotel. After attending Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Don returned to Houston and worked for Southside Camera, Schares Instruments, then worked for IBM, and lastly at Bonner & Moore. In 1981, Don met Becky at a friend's 30th birthday party and the rest is history. They married in 1983 and had Elisabeth in 1985. Shortly thereafter they started attending Bellaire United Methodist Church where they made many friends for life.
Don enjoyed nature photography, cooking, gardening, old Western TV shows and movies, woodworking and traveling with family and friends. Not necessarily to exotic places, but especially to the property in Round Top, Texas where he and Becky first met and later purchased in 1998. They spent many weekends there working together mowing the grass and trimming the trees, checking the bird boxes, and sitting on the front porch in their rocking chairs waiting for the pair of Painted Buntings to arrive on their annual migration to Mexico. Fishing in the pond with his grandchildren was another favorite pastime. He loved teaching them about nature and if they had a question, PawPaw always had an answer, and he could fix anything!
Don was a remarkable person whose warmth and kindness and listening ear touched the hearts and lives of many family, friends and acquaintances. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered. The pain and suffering is now gone and he has moved on to greener pastures with his Maker.
A service will be held at noon on Monday, May 19th at Bellaire United Methodist Church. Immediately following, all are invited to visit with family during a reception in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the organization of your choosing.