Philip Stewart

Philip John Stewart, Sr. age 80, passed away on May 14, 2012 in Ocala, Florida. He was born on July 8, 1931 in Jacksonville, Florida to Catherine Gaffney Stewart and Harry Milo Stewart. He attended Landon High School, graduating in 1949. He married Suzanne Surrency of Jacksonville in 1951. He graduated from Florida State University in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. He was employed by J C Penney Company in Tampa, Florida. In 1960 he and his family moved to Gulf Breeze, Florida where he was employed with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Mr. Stewart was a member of Gulf Breeze Methodist Church where he is remembered for the many Men’s Breakfasts and chicken barbeques he organized. (He loved to cook and eat!). In 1969 he moved to Jacksonville, Florida to go into the Mobile Home Finance Business.

In 1975 Philip moved to Gainesville, Florida to enter into the real estate business. In 1980 he founded Stewart Realty. He eventually relocated to back to Jacksonville and then Ocala where he retired with United Parcel Service. Philip had a strong sense of family by always seeking to bridge older generations with today’s generation. He was natural born salesman with a very enthusiastic view on life. At family gatherings he was often heard saying: Is Everybody Happy!!

Along with several nieces, nephews, cousins and others, Philip is survived by two daughters, Catherine Paul (Lynn) of Pensacola, Barbara Vineyard (Richard) of Gainesville and one son, Philip John Stewart, Jr (Kathryn), of Winston-Salem, NC. He is also survived by one brother, Milo Stewart Jr. (Jeanne), nephew Milo, III all of Tallahassee, FL and seven grandchildren, Kelly Paul of Denver, CO, Michael Paul of Pensacola, Bryan Paul of Pensacola, Scott Stewart of Winston-Salem, Kristen Stewart of St. Augustine, FL, Alex Stewart of Winston-Salem and William Vineyard of Gainesville, FL. Also surviving is his former wife Suzanne S. Wood of Gainesville and his beloved Dachshund Mikey.

The burial will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, May 25th at Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Jacksonville Humane Society, www.jaxhumane.org or a charity of donor’s choice.