It is with heavy hearts the Stewart and Porte families announce the passing of our brother, father, uncle and family man, Cletus Zoebon Stewart which sad event occurred on February 16, 2022
Cletus Stewart was born on August 22, 1963 in the city of Monrovia unto the union of the late Mr. John H T. Stewart and the late Sarah Porte Stewart.
From very early childhood, Cletus began developing an interest in reading. By age five, Cletus was already reading children story books.
Cletus was an avid reader, a habit he developed in childhood. He would later cultivate a reading habit and developed an expansive English vocabulary. Cletus was fond of always carrying a book of some sort which he would instinctively pull out to read during idle moments. He maintained this habit up to the period of his short period of illness and subsequent passing.
He was known as a kind, quiet and gentle nonviolent individual never known to have been involved in physical fights. And unlike his elder brother John, Cletus was soft spoken and would always avoid physical engagements.
But he had a way with words that would sway off any would be assailant. To many of his friends he was known as and was called names like “walking encyclopedia, walking dictionary”. And some of his quibs…., “you can’t squeeze water from rock” “whether rain or sun, coconut got water”.
Cletus was also an avid and accomplished billiard (pool) player and enthusiast. He was also excellent at the word game, Scrabble.
He began his early education first at home under the tutelage of his mother and school teacher Sarah Porte Stewart, and then later at the Gbarnga Methodist School where he completed elementary school.
He then enrolled at the Cathedral High School in Monrovia from where he graduated in 1982 with honors.
Later he would enroll at the University of Liberia from where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in English in 1998.
He then joined the McFarland law firm where he served as an office assistant until the firm shut down due to illness and death of is brother-in law, Cllr. Flaawgaa Richard McFarland.
After a brief period of illness, Cletus passed away at the John F. Kennedy Hospital on February 16, 2023 at the hour of 10:30pm.
He was loved by his family and friends and will be missed dearly. He leaves to mourn his loss several foster children including one daughter, Angel, several sisters, Natalie, Emma, Gertude, Albertha, Benetta, Velma and brothers, John H. T. Stewart and H. Taweh Stewart, several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives in Liberia and abroad.
He was predeceased in death by his eldest sister, Rosemarie Stewart, McFarland.
Funeral rites will be held on Saturday March 11, 2023 at the Chapel of the Maureen Capehart Funeral Home in Caldwell beginning at 10:00a.m. . Interment will follow thereafter at the Butler Cemetery on Benson Street, Upper Caldwell.
The repast will be held at the home of his late sister Mrs. Rosemarie Stewart McFarland, also in Caldwell.
