Stewart Layne Dedmon

Stewart Layne Dedmon was born on August 4th, 1951 in Baytown, TX to Wayland Eugene Dedmon and Wanda Jean Stewart Dedmon. He attended Arlington High School where he was a proud member of the Kickin’ Colt Band. Stewart was the drum major his senior year and graduated in 1970. He continued his love of music at Texas State University (then Southwest Texas State University) where he majored in music education and graduated in 1976. Stewart’s first teaching job was in the tiny town of Harper, TX. He was the Jr and senior high school band director, amongst many other various positions at the school.

Stewart eventually moved to South Texas and taught at various school districts in the Rio Grande Valley. It was in Weslaco that he met his wife Melissa, also an educator. They married in 1984 and enjoyed many years of traveling and camping during their time off in the summers. Their first daughter Hailey was born in 1992, followed by Kylee in 1999. His family was now complete and his two girls became his whole world and complete pride and joy.

Stewart finished his teaching career with the Arlington ISD and retired in 2008 with 32 total years as an educator. His hobby with photography now became his second career as he started Creative Images Photography. Stewart was also very fortunate to be employed by World View Travel and Pride of Texas Music Festivals. He and Melissa served as tour escorts and took band, choir, orchestra, and drill teams on their spring trips. Stewart was such an asset to the company as he could help with tuning and repairing an instrument if needed. His sense of direction was also impeccable which came in handy for many trips. His two favorite places to take groups were Disney World and New York City, which he got to see and experience many times.

Stewart was extremely outgoing and friendly and never met a stranger. You would never find him not wearing an article of burnt orange clothing as he loved his Texas Longhorns. In fact, he enjoyed being a season ticket holder for Texas football for almost 30 years!

Stewart loved to cycle and attended several cycling camps in Colorado. He was a true Texan as he loved his Dr Pepper and a good chicken fried steak. He was a great friend to many, a great big brother, excellent band director and photographer, but mostly, the best daddy to Hailey and Kylee. Stewart was the consummate “Girl Dad” and never missed any of their many activities they were involved in. He and Melissa were truly best friends and did just about everything together for almost 39 wonderful years!

Stewart is preceded in death by his parents Wayland and Wanda Dedmon, his maternal grandparents Bertie and Eula Stewart, and his paternal grandparents Jeff and Hazel Dedmon.

Stewart is remembered by his wife Melissa, his two daughters Hailey Nicole and Kylee Noelle, his sister Kay and her husband Phil, his brother Craig and his wife Mary, his nephews Patrick (Jamie), Derek (Nilda), Andrew (Amy), Jered (Katie), Cody and Jordan AuClair, his niece Lauren (Ryan), sister-in-laws Andrea AuClair and Moira MacNair, mother-in-law Barbara MacNair, and his many great nephews and nieces.