Obituary: Donna Elaine Stewart
Donna Elaine Stewart, 81, of Port Charlotte, Florida, Dies After 81 Years of Family, Community, and Coastal Life
Port Charlotte, Fla. – Donna Elaine Stewart, 81, died on July 23, 2026, after a long life rooted in family and the sea. The former tax‑preparation professional was born in Portland, Maine, and spent much of her adult life in North Yarmouth and Long Island, where she and her husband fished for lobster and scallop in Casco Bay.
Stewart, a graduate of Deering High School and the University of Southern Maine, began her career in the tax‑preparation business before marrying Harold James Stewart in 1964. The couple raised two sons, James Harold and Craig Allen, and later settled in the coastal town of Long Island. Stewart’s days were filled with the rhythms of the Bay—sailing, picnics on the shore, and evenings spent with the “beach ladies” at Fowlers Beach. Her two beloved dogs, Binaki and Hersey, were often by her side, and she was a regular at the local community gatherings that celebrated the island’s maritime heritage.
After Harold’s death in 2022, Stewart retired to Port Charlotte, Florida, where she continued to enjoy the sun and the warmth of a new community. She shared her days with her grandchildren—Ed, Cody, and Carli—and great‑granddaughter Avery Louise, who recalled her grandmother’s “spunk, wide grin, and love for puzzles.”
The Stewart family says she will be remembered as a woman who combined a sharp mind with an adventurous spirit. “She loved the sea and her family, and she always had a bright smile,” said son James. “She was the heart of our family.”
Donna Stewart is survived by her sons Jim and Craig, grandchildren Ed, Cody, and Carli, and great‑granddaughter Avery Louise. She will be missed by everyone who knew her, from her lifelong friends in Maine to neighbors in Port Charlotte, and her legacy of adventure, family devotion, and love for the ocean lives on.
