Thomas Wayne "Tom" Stewart

The family of Thomas Wayne Stewart is heartbroken to report his passing on October 19, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Tom had three great loves in his life: his mother, Nelda; his partner of more than two decades, Chris; and Texas Longhorn football. A true son of Texas, Tom's passion and happy place was The Stewart Ranch, just outside of Cleburne. Tom was a cowboy at heart. He loved working hard under the Texas skies, stewarding the land, and taking care of his beloved herd of Polled Hereford cattle. He loved all his heifers, but he had a favorite, and Fancy was her name.

You could often hear Tom before you saw him. He had a big laugh, loved colorful stories, and friends and family would recognize his Texas twang (and his creative use of the best epithets and curses) from a mile away. While occasionally curmudgeonly, underneath Tom's tough exterior was a tender and generous heart. His mother meant everything to him, and her untimely death left a hole in Tom's heart for the rest of his life. Quietly generous and a sly big tipper (and slipper of "a little extra"), Tom adored his friends; if he thought they needed something, he made sure they got it. Over his years in Fort Worth, without even knowing it, Tom became the biggest single donor to an AIDS charity a dollar at a time. 

Objects and stories from his past meant the world to him, and he treasured the community, faith, and friendship that are the bedrock of growing up in a small town. After moving to Austin, he cherished his friends and neighbors there and created that same sense of neighborhood in Enchanted Forest with his and Chris's friends and family around the swimming pool in the beautiful oasis he created in the backyard. Tom and Chris's move to Atlanta brought another group of great friends into their lives; Tom found true kindred spirits at the T in Grant Park. Tom inherited his mother's love of cooking and her treasured recipe for Italian Wedding Cake and made it whenever anyone asked (as they often did). Every time he made it, he felt close to Nelda, his guardian angel.

Tom vehemently denied being a cat person, but he made an exception for Jasper (perhaps because Jasper is Longhorn football orange). As a tiny kitten, Jasper walked over to Tom, laid on his chest, claimed him as his person, and never left Tom's side for the next 12 years.

To the tune of the Dixie Chicks and Dolly, proudly wearing the colors of his favorite team and a huge cowboy belt, and with a sparkle in his blue, blue eyes, Tom truly lived his life on his own terms.

Tom is predeceased by his parents Nelda and Wayne Stewart and his nephew Dustin Stewart. Tom is survived by his partner, Chris Tennyson; sister and brother in law, Sally and Bob Hearn; brother and sister in law, Kathrine and Robert Stewart; niece, Lauren Fish (Josh); nephews, Brandon Hearn(Jordan) and Clayton Hearn (Grace), Stephen Stewart and Zach Stewart; and great niece and nephew, Millie and Andrew Fish. 

Funeral services will be held at Rosser Funeral Home in Cleburne, Texas on Thursday, October 26 with  visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and service at 1:00 p.m.  Burial will follow in Cleburne Memorial Cemetery.

The family requests orange flowers to send Tom off in Longhorn style.