Elizabeth Bury Stewart, 73, of Springfield, MO passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2023. She was born on April 18, 1950, in Quincy, IL to parents James Kenneth and Betty Jane Bury. After graduating from Parkview High School, she went on to earn her Bachelor's degree in English from Southwest Missouri State College (Missouri State University). She then worked as a school librarian at Wellsville Missouri public schools and after starting civil rights work through the Midwest Center for Equal Opportunity, Elizabeth began her graduate degree work in Library Science at the University of Missouri – Columbia (MU). While studying at MU, she met the love of her life, Byron Stewart. Byron and Elizabeth were married in Springfield in 1980. They went on to have two children: Jennifer Lee and Molly Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Byron had a loving marriage of 43 years. Outside of raising their family, they enjoyed spending time together building the Immaculate Conception School library and traveling in retirement. Elizabeth had an immense passion for reading and worked as a children's librarian at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library for over 30 years. Elizabeth was also passionate about caring for her cats, crafting, decorating for every single holiday, crocheting, and shopping for and discussing interior design. Elizabeth will be dearly missed.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Jennifer Lee, sister-in-law Evelyn Bury, and  brother-in-law Doug Kelliker.

Elizabeth is survived by her husband Byron Stewart, daughter Molly Mantei, son-in-law Christopher Mantei, grandbaby Reed Mantei, sister Saralee Jamieson, and brother James Kevin Bury.

Elizabeth's services will be held in Springfield, MO. Her visitation will be held at Gorman-Scharpf on Thursday, October 26 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Elizabeth's funeral will be held at Immaculate Conception Church on Friday, October 27 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Pregnancy Care Center, 1342 E. Primrose St., Springfield, MO 65804. Elizabeth made and donated dozens of baby blankets to this impactful organization throughout her lifetime.