Colette Stewart

Colette Stewart, 88, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on April 23, 2019 at Montgomery Place. Colette was born to Donald W. and Dean Stewart on June 8, 1930 in Independence, Kansas. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at the First Presbyterian Church in Independence, Kansas. The family will greet guest from 1:00 p.m. until service time in the sanctuary with a reception to follow in the church parlor. Memorial gifts may be directed to the Independence Public Library, AWOL or the Deacons fund at the First Presbyterian Church.
Colette was raised for the most part in Independence with brief stays in Arizona, California and Hawaii. She married Seward Shukers on June 14, 1949. They had five children from their union. She was a creative homemaker, singer, dancer, lover of music, gardener, hostess and World Book sales woman and manager. She never had a job she didn't love. And she never met a stranger. She was a life long learner and lover of books. She earned a BS degree in English from Emporia State in 1973.
In the years following her divorce she lived in Emporia, Hawaii, Kansas City, Topeka, Iowa, Missouri and Florida before returning home to Independence in 2005. As she relocated, Colette very quickly found the library, her new church home and a large cluster of new life long friends. Friendliness, creativity and a sense of adventure were her trade mark. Finding a foursome for bridge was a constant quest for the gal who always won high.
Colette was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Jock and Roddy, two sisters, Marn and Diane, and grandson Casey Knisley.
This loving woman always reached out to all her family with her Co-letters try folded mimeographed letters full of her hopes, dreams, philosophy and strong suggestions on how to live a full life, and most importantly her love. She will be greatly missed, and her memory cherished by her daughters: Lucinda (Ralph) Shukers-Stegeman, Val DeFever, Nickie (Rick) Edwards, Diana (Carol) Knisley, and Doug Shuckers, eleven grandchildren, Alan, Jama and Andrew DeFever, Abby Mackie, Tyler Knisley, Adriane Lang, Dustin and Austin Edwards, Adam Stageman, Jessica Andrews, Emily Kruez and twenty-three great-grandchildren. To leave a special message for the family please visit www.webbrodrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Webb & Rodrick Chapel and Crematory.

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