Lexington, KY — Elizabeth “Betty” Hunter Stewart, 100, the matriarch of a family of horsemen, died peacefully Sept. 29, 2021, at her home in Lexington, Ky.

Born in Minnesota, she moved to Lexington with her family and attended the University of Kentucky, where she met her future husband, Tom Stewart. The couple settled in Lexington and started a family and in 1961 moved to the new Gainesway subdivision in Lexington, the site of the former Gainesway Farm. Mrs. Stewart was well-known to many families in the Gainesway neighborhood because of her organization of the annual Fourth of July parade for children, which grew and continued for many years.

One of the Stewarts’ neighbors was horseman and fellow Catholic Joe Taylor. Taylor was the manager of Gainesway Farm and a lover of the Standardbred breed of horse, and that began the Stewart family’s immersion into the harness racing world.

The Stewarts’ sons, Tom Jr., John, Bob, Steve and Mike, all gravitated to careers in Standardbred racing and breeding. Tom Jr., who died in 1995, served as farm manager at Stoner Creek Stud in Paris, Ky., during the years when Meadow Skipper was the sport’s top pacing sire; John operated Brentwood Farm in central Kentucky; Bob became a trainer; Steve founded Hunterton Farm; and Mike is a veterinarian and treats Standardbreds.

Mrs. Stewart was an active volunteer in the Lexington area, especially as a Master Gardener. In the 1950s she hosted a local TV show called “The Magic Garden Lady.” In later years she was involved as a volunteer at the Arboretum, the State Botanical Garden at the University of Kentucky. She enjoyed being outside and mowed her lawn and used her weed-eater to trim until she was in her mid 90s.

Mrs. Stewart is survived by sons, John, Bob (Lynda), Steve (Cindy) and Mike (Lisa); daughter, Sue Ellen Fosson (Dr. Abe Fosson); nine grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; and son, Tom Jr.

A graveside service will be held Tuesday (Oct. 5). A Celebration of Life will take place later in October.