After several months at home with family and exemplary care, on June 14, 2026, Walter "Spud" Stewart died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by love in his own home, just as he wanted. 

Spud started life in Seaview, PEI, the youngest of four. Every reminiscence of his youth was told with a smile and a glint in his eye. He’d say they grew up poor, but never knew it. He spent his younger years fishing and trapping, and sometimes skipping school to do so. He loved to tell of riding his horse bareback to school and leaving her eating grass on the lawn, where she’d often be at the end of the day, ready to take him home. 

When he was 17, Spud left home to join the army and ended up in Whitehorse, Yukon, where he acquired the nickname Spud, from the potato island. Over the years he’s shared many stories of his time in Whitehorse. He told of meeting his future wife while working as a bartender, and playing hockey with the Whitehorse Huskies, where he apparently had a direct line to the sin bin. When he returned to the Maritimes, his nickname followed him, as did the love of his life, Shirley Carlson. Spud and Shirley were married in Keswick Ridge, NB, in 1965, where Shirley was teaching school and Spud was in forest ranger school. After a few years, they made their way back to PEI, eventually putting down roots in Montague. There they raised two daughters, Tara and Megan. 

Spud spent his working life as a conservation officer with Fish and Wildlife. He loved it so much he’d say he never worked a day in his life. Spud was extremely social, and throughout his career, while getting to spend his days outside, met loads of new people, making friends (even with those he had to charge) while helping out local wildlife. He even got to escort a herd of buffalo from Alberta to PEI. Over the years, many would call him for advice on skunks, fish, raccoons, beavers and birds, long after his retirement. He passed on a love of nature and wildlife to not only his girls, but to many he mentored over the years. 

After his retirement, Spud got involved in several organizations as a volunteer. He spent years delivering Meals on Wheels, while also volunteering with the Literacy Alliance, with whom he traveled to Iceland. He also volunteered with the Red Cross and traveled to the Caribbean twice to help with damage assessments after hurricanes. He loved to help out. His favourite part of retirement was time with family and fishing with his friends, particularly trips with his buddies to Cape Breton and Newfoundland. 

Spud was a proud member of AA for 36 years. He found kinship and support with many in AA and was also able to help others through his own journey of sobriety. Spud was also involved with other local organizations over the years, and enjoyed giving back to the community.

Spud spent the last several years as a caregiver for his wife, Shirley, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia many years ago. He was devoted to her care and dedicated to making her happy. You would often see the two out and about, going for ice cream and out to eat at local restaurants. He rarely left her side. 

The last several months of Spud’s life were spent at home with 24-hour care. His family is eternally grateful to his careers who went above and beyond to make sure Spud was not only comfortable, but happy. There’s no doubt they helped extend his life. They were compassionate, kind and especially selfless, while making this period of his life the best it could be. Each one of them was his favourite and he loved to tell them so. Spud also benefited from daily pop-ins (Spud liked short visits best) from his best friend, Tommy MacLeod, and regular visits from a few other close friends, like Geordie, Art and his nephew, Steve. There are many other friends whose visits were welcomed and appreciated.  

Spud was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Lenore Stewart, his brother, Lea Stewart, as well as his sister, Shirley MacLean, her husband, Clayton, and his brother-in-law, Colie Fernald. He was also predeceased on his wife’s side by her parents, Fred and Edith Carlson of Milestone, Saskatchewan, Shirley’s sister, Valerie Patterson (her husband, Caron and their son, Daryl), Shirley’s brother Charlie Carlson and wife Dorothy, as well as brother-in-law, Jack Wedge.

Spud loved his family fiercely. He was a caring husband, father and friend, and will be missed beyond measure. He leaves behind his wife of 61 years, Shirl, as he called her, his daughters, Tara and Megan, as well as Megan’s husband, Jason, and their son, Finn, Spud’s only grandchild whom he adored. He also leaves behind two cats, Cheeto and Ben the Biter. 

Spud asked that any donations in his memory be made to the PEI Humane Society or the Alzheimer Society of PEI. He would also love to know you were sharing smiles and acts of kindness in his honour. If you run into Shirley in your travels, she believes Spud has gone fishing and he asked that we continue to tell her that.