Bernice "Poppy" Arlene Stewart

Bernice Arlene Stewart (Better known as Poppy) of Devine, Texas, passed away Monday, March 20, 2023, at 96. She was born September 4, 1926, to parents Hugh and Edith Applewhite in Pearsall, Texas. 

She attended school in Moore, Texas, thru the 9th grade and one year at Pearsall. She got a hardship driver's license at the age of twelve to drive her siblings and neighbor kids to school before Moore got a school bus. 

On May 30, 1941, she married Glen Wood Stewart three months before her sixteenth birthday. Many said she was too young and the marriage would not last, but when her husband passed in July 2013, they were married for 72 years. In September 1941, Glen was drafted into the military and served 44 months in the Army.  Like many wartime brides, she lived with her in-laws. When Glen came home after the Army, they lived in a one-room apartment along the Railroad tracks in Devine until they purchased 25 acres with a small house. Nine years later, they purchased their farm on FM 2200 W.

Poppy not only took care of the house and raised two kids but was always involved in the farm activities, whatever they were. She enjoyed working in her yard and caring for the house; she taught herself to sew and made many of her kid's school clothes from flour sacks from the old Loggins and Lilly retail store. She also loved to quilt, making each grandchild and great-grandchild a quilt, plus many smaller items. In earlier years, she loved competing in the county fair with quilts, canned goods, and baked goods. She is famous for her sweet pickles and buttermilk pecan pie. She loved Black Creek Baptist Church and her church family, where she attended since 1954; she was very active as a Church clerk and a teacher for small children with numerous other positions throughout the years. 

Poppy is preceded in death by her parents, Hugh Applewhite and Edith Applwhite DelBrail, husband Glen Wood Stewart, son Glen Wood Stewart, Jr., sisters Betty Mann, Laurel Oppelt, Janice Magill, and brother William (Buddy) DelBrail. She is survived by her daughter Carolyn Stewart Cope and (Jim), son Glen Hugh Stewart (Billie), grandsons Justin Stewart, Shane Stewart (Kara), David Cope (Kelly), and Brian Cope (Julie). Great-grandchildren Mae Cope, Hunter Cope, Adie Cope, Kenadee Stewart and Kambell Stewart. Sister Billie Toalson (Charles), sister-in-laws Wanda Gardner and Barbara DelBrail, Brother-in-law Nixon Stewart, and many nephews and nieces.  

Special thanks to the ladies at Black Creek Baptist Church for their assistance in helping her be involved in all their activities and to her caregiver Norma Garcia for going above and beyond. Poppy will be missed by her family, church family, and friends. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Black Creek Baptist Church or a charity of your choice. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023, from 9:00 A.M. until service time at 11:00 A.M. Black Creek Baptist Church Devine, Texas, with interment to follow at Evergreen cemetery. 

Anyone wishing to leave condolences, share memories, or sign the online guestbook may do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com arrangements are under the direction of Primrose Funeral Services, 303 W. College Ave., Devine, Texas, 78016, (830) 663-4445.