August 18, 1949 – June 18, 2026

William “Bill” Salem Stewart, Jr., a fierce advocate, loyal friend, and devoted husband and father, passed away June 18, 2026, in Lexington.

Bill was born on August 18, 1949, in Flat Lick, Kentucky, to the late William S. and Lou Emma Lyttle Stewart, who inspired his love of gardening. The oldest of a merry band of cousins, Bill led them in frog gigging, farm chores, and the occasional snipe hunt.

After graduating from Pineville High School, Bill attended Centre College, where he majored in psychology and joined the anti-war movement. After college, he advocated for students with learning differences before earning a master’s degree in psychology from the University of West Georgia, where his farm skills came in handy during the back-to-the-land movement. He later returned to farming in Estill County, Kentucky, before moving to Lexington to work for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, helping ensure that people with mental health diagnoses were treated with dignity and fairness.

Bill married Mary Davidson of Paducah, Kentucky, his “great love,” on a beach in St. Thomas in 1989. They made their home on Sycamore Road, where Bill tended the garden for 37 years. In 1990, William “Will” Davidson Stewart was born, giving Bill the opportunity to embody one of the roles he loved most: dad. Bill and Mary’s homes in Lexington and on Laurel Lake were always open to gatherings of family and friends.

In retirement, Bill tutored students, taught classes in the UK School of Social Work, and served as a board member of the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) and Kentucky Youth Advocates. He took Blues cruises with his brother Frank and sister-in-law Leisa Woodson, and watched live wrestling matches with his brother Jimmy, whose death affected Bill deeply. He coaxed his bulldog Sam on walks and later taught the family poodles, Sophie and Dolly, tricks in the backyard. Bill planted a garden every year and, even during his recent illness, made sure his tomato seedlings found good homes.

Survivors include his wife; his son and daughter-in-law, Lais Costa Stewart, and his grandson, James, of Vancouver, BC; his brother, Frank Stewart, and wife, Leisa, of Flat Lick, KY; and his niece, Stacey Stewart, of New York City. He also leaves behind a gaggle of cousins and friends who will undoubtedly keep Bill alive through his stories and his joy.