Ramona Dawn Stewart

Ramona Dawn Stewart (m. Kessler) was born August 22, 1931, in Mitchell, Nebraska, and died October 29, 2022, in Walla Walla, at 91.

The eldest, dearly cherished daughter of Robert David Stewart and Viola Ellen (Stephens), she spent her first seven childhood years in Nebraska, memories of which she enjoyed throughout her life, including a favorite anecdote about sneaking her pet goat into the house.

Her family migrated to Walla Walla in the late 1930s, following dozens of Stewart and Stephens relatives who came to nearby areas in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. They settled on a small rural plot on Amelia Street, where she shared life with her beloved younger sister Glenna and attended Berney Elementary, Pioneer Jr. High, and Wa-Hi.

Having 18 uncles and aunts on her father’s side and 17 on her mother’s, she regularly corresponded and maintained relations over the years with many of her cousins. A 1974 Greyhound road trip with her husband and youngest son, Stan, to visit various Nebraska relatives was a special memory.

Ramona married Edwin Kessler on August 22, 1953, in a service officiated by her father-in-law, a minister at the old Walla Walla German Congregational church. She was blessed with three sons she gave her life caring for, and over the years, there were many visits to family in Walla Walla from homes in Seattle, Richland, Hoquiam, Aberdeen, WA, and Ione, OR, punctuated by a short residency in Walla Walla.

She was known for what Christian scriptures call the “Gift of Hospitality,” hosting and honoring any visiting speakers and missionaries (her family knew they were going to eat the best meals of their lives during those stays) and often spontaneously having other families over for sumptuous Sunday dinners if they hadn’t been invited elsewhere. In later years at the Odd Fellows Home, she was renowned for the dozen or so wonderful potlucks, banquets, and celebrations she annually organized, decorated, and cooked for, particularly including those who were alone, from both inside and outside the Home, and often sent cards of encouragement and celebration to fellow residents. She also served a number of years as the Co-director of the food bank at the Pioneer Methodist church she attended.

She enjoyed working part-time as a librarian, gardening, reading, cooking, playing hymns on the piano, and singing. A highlight of her life was performing with the Walla Walla Symphony Chorale at Carnegie Hall in the NY premiere of John Verrall’s The Legend of Chief Joseph .

A light in the darkness, she will be greatly missed. Ramona was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother Allison, sister Glenna, and husband Edwin. She is survived by her three sons, James (Ellen), Steve (Debra), Stan (Suzanne), and seven grandsons, Ben, Sam, Brendan, Nathan, Connor, David, and Avery. A special thank you goes out to Jane Smith, who was a kind friend who provided invaluable help and liaison with the family in their absence. Additional thanks to Washington Odd Fellows Home staff members/caregivers for their years of support and care. Ramona will be interred at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens in College Place, Washington, with her husband and sister.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.