It is with a heavy heart that the family announces the passing of Donna Stone Stewart on October 17, 2026 after a long battle with Parkinson Disease. Donna was born in Mt. Sterling in 1948 to the union of Betty Ginter and Edgar Stone. She graduated from Mt. Sterling City School before beginning work at Blue Grass Army Depot. Some time later she transferred to the VA hospital in Lexington, starting in the warehouse and working her way up to supply chief after a transfer to the VA in Jackson, Mississippi. Donna retired after a 26-year career of serving our veterans.

It was in Jackson where Donna met the love of her life, it was to a mutual feeling, while attending country-western dance lessons. Jim Stewart was taking the same lessons and asked Donna to dance with him. One dance led to many over the next three years before they married and started a life of dancing, travel, genealogy research, bird watching and raising horse together. Donna converted Jim into an avid UK Wildcat fan, like her.

In the family, Donna was known as the genealogist. Her years of work traced the Stone, Ginter and Hatton families back to their roots in Europe. While the Stone research will remain with a surviving member of the family, the Ginter and Hatton research will be placed in a public institution where it will be available to the public. Donna was very proud of her Kentucky roots.

Following a short period of retirement in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Donna and Jim moved to Kentucky to be near Donna’s mother as she aged, spending many years on their horse farm in Sharpsburg. They moved to Donna’s hometown of Mt. Sterling in later years to be near health facilities as they aged and battled various diseases. Parkinson disease took a terrible toll on Donna over her last years but she fought it gamely.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents and numerous relatives in Mt. Sterling. She is survived by her husband of 34 years, two sons, James R. Clark, Jr. (Courtney) and Jay Henry Clark (Lisa), both of Lexington. Her one grandson, James R. Clark, III of Lexington survives his proud grandmother. In addition, Donna leaves behind tow step-children, Christina Stewart Chaudhuri (Rai) of Denver, Colorado and Patrick Stewart (Linda) of Cooper, Texas. Donna was a fond grandmother to her step-granddaughter, Bela Chaudhuri of Boulder, Colorado, that survives her. In addition to her immediate family, there is a shrinking group of first cousins and friends that Donna loved like immediate family.

Donna is survived by two special friends from high school, Pat Fessler and Barbara Niswonger that never stopped calling to check on her. She and Jim are very grateful to the caretakers, the home health workers and hospice workers that helped care for Donna the last part of her life. A very special health care provider, Julia Maness of Mt. Sterling Clinic, has their gratitude for her support and many home visits.

There will be a public visitation at Taul Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 from 5-7 PM, followed by a private burial in Machpelah Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family request you make a donation to your favorite charity in Donna’s name.