Robert Louis Stewart

Robert Louis Stewart was born on January 13, 1940, in Independence, Missouri, the second child of Ray Stewart and Betty (Burgess) Stewart. He enjoyed a charmed childhood that nurtured the confidence, curiosity, and determination he carried throughout his life.

In 1959, Bob earned a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Art from Central Missouri State University. Returning to Kansas City, he worked for several local agencies, most notably O'Neal Swicegood Advertising. In the late 1960s, his independent spirit led him to open Crown Center's only freelance commercial art studio, where he attracted clients such as Crown Center Development. For 17 years, he brought creativity and care to logos, financial reports, and advertising materials. In the 1990s, he moved his office to Trabon Printing, remaining independent while working alongside its production operations. His clients included Applebee's and the Cousteau Society.

When Bob retired from his "day job", he found a new way to express his creativity, combining his love of photography and painting in mixed-media works on wood panels. For 10 years, he sold his art at fairs throughout the West and Southwest. Those trips gave him the perfect reason to explore ghost towns, discover new landscapes, and photograph subjects for future pieces. Bob was always curious about what might be waiting over the next hill. He loved traveling on his own and leaving his wife, Kay, long rambling voicemails about his adventures while she worked at Sprint. Coworkers around her would pop up from their cubicles like prairie dogs to listen, and one even put up a large 'Where's Bob?" map on his cubicle, marking Bob's travels with pushpins. After leaving the art fair circuit, Bob turned his photographs and travel memories into books. Across twenty-seven published volumes, he created a lasting record of the places he explored and the later years he so fully enjoyed.

Bob and Kay shared a love of travel and made many wonderful memories together. A favorite adventure was their three week exploration of Route 66 to the Santa Monica Pier, documenting the historic highway wherever it remained. Taos, New Mexico held a special place in their hearts and felt like home. Although Bob never cared for flying, he and Kay explored much of the United States and traveled to Mexico, Greece, England and Hawaii. Bob was never afraid to follow an idea and see where it led. In the 1970s, with no architectural training, he taught himself to draw blueprints and designed an unconventional red cedar home in the new Lakewood development in Lee's Summit. Once he found a builder willing to bring his vision to life, he and his wife created the home he loved.

Bob's sister, Carol Williams, died in 2016. Bob will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Kay; daughter, Carrie Hounchell of Lee's Summit; son, Brady Stewart and his wife Mieko of Kauai, Hawaii; grandchildren, Skyler Stevenson, Jade Long and Destin Hounchell; and great-grandchildren Warren, Jasper, and Josie.

Bob's family is deeply grateful to Kansas City Hospice for the kindness and loving care shown to him during his final days. Renee, Sheila and Lisa are forever loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Kansas City Hospice at 12000 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO 64145. https://kchospice.org/donate/

A memorial will be held at a later date.