Robert Laurie Stewart, 74, of Port Townsend, passed away with loved ones by his side, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
Laurie was always deliberate about how he spent his time, prioritizing the activities and relationships that mattered most to him. He was a lifelong artist, a voracious and broadly curious reader, loved music, and played the guitar. He valued home, the beauty of nature, and humor. He gave great hugs and had a wonderful laugh.
For the past 22 years, Laurie shared his home and his life with his partner Stefanie Anderson. Home was profoundly important to him, and he appreciated the warm nest that he and his “Tanya” created together. He liked to take care of little things around the house as signs of his love and care, and he loved Stefanie’s delicious cooking. Laurie was supportive of Stefanie’s travel adventures, and was always there to welcome her back home.
Laurie was an unwaveringly generous, steady, and loving dad to his children, Sky and Sarah. He welcomed their partners, Amy and Ben, with open arms, and loved his grandchildren. Being present and available as a parent was vitally important to him. He chose to work less in order to spend more time with his kids. He coached and assisted with their sports teams and was much beloved and respected by all the young people who got to be around him.
Laurie was a skilled artist, working primarily in acrylics and photography. Many of his paintings were highly detailed, and some paintings he worked on for years. In 1989, he took a year to focus exclusively on painting and had shows at galleries in Port Townsend. His recent interest was in “loosening up,” playing with light, exploring blurry horizons, and washes of color. A portfolio of some of his work is at fineartamerica.com/profiles/laurie-stewart.
Laurie utilized his artistic and visual talents throughout his professional life. After moving to Port Townsend in 1974, he designed many iconic logos for local businesses and events, painted signs that are still in use today, and hand-lettered boats. In the 1980s, Laurie began designing homes, ultimately designing over 500 homes built in Port Townsend and beyond. He took great pride in designing homes that were a pleasure to live in and minimized material and financial waste. Builders loved working with Laurie, and he had many long-term and respectful partnerships in the local construction community.
Laurie took great pleasure in language. He wrote poetry as well as deeply thoughtful Letters to the Editor on subjects close to his heart. But perhaps his greatest joy of language was in play; he endlessly coined catchphrases, monikers, and nicknames. He handed out nicknames with abandon; those he loved best inevitably ended up with the most.
Laurie was an avid golfer; for nearly 30 years, he and the “Fellas” had a standing daily 3 pm tee time. He treasured the open space of the PT Golf Course, watching the seasons change and the local wildlife in its lifecycle.
Laurie was beloved by so many, including: his partner Stefanie Anderson; his children Sky (Amy) and Sarah (Ben); his grandchildren River, Azure, Norah, and Owen; his siblings Ruth, Jamie, Clyde, and Bern; the Fellas; his dog Kaylee; and many friends and loved ones.
A memorial is planned for this summer. In lieu of donations, please consider getting out in nature, hugging your loved ones, or listening to a Mark Knopfler song.
