Helen Bruner Stewart

Helen Bruner Stewart, 97, passed quietly on January 9, 2026, at Little Creek Nursing Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and dear friend. Helen was a founding and very active member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church of Knoxville. Helen was born on March 4, 1928, in Madisonville, Tennessee, to Carl and Annette Calfee. Known for her red curls and warm smile, she graduated from Madisonville High School and attended Tennessee Wesleyan College, where she met John Clark Bruner. They later married and settled in Knoxville, where they raised three children. John died in 1977 at age 52 from cancer. Helen’s love for children extended into her work. She was a preschool assistant at Concord United Methodist Church for several years and enjoyed every day with her “little ones.” Skilled at arranging anything that bloomed, Helen later worked as a florist at Proffitt’s Department Store, creating beautiful floral arrangements for weddings, birthdays, and gifts for anyone who needed flowers to brighten up an event or celebration. Her love for flowers was exceeded only by her love for birds. She could identify a multitude of species by sight or by their sound. Helen filled many bird feeders, and her feathered friends kept her entertained, especially the feeders outside her room at the Nursing Center. In 1981, Helen met Don Stewart, a wonderful man who lived nearby. That meeting led to romance, and they married in 1982. Don’s love of travel led him and Helen on many adventures. They traveled across the country by RV to Alaska and Canada, a journey Helen spoke of fondly for years. Later, they traveled to New Zealand and Australia, spending several months in those countries. Helen and Don spent their winter months in a home they shared in Bonita Springs, Florida, and eagerly looked forward to returning every year. Sadly, Don Stewart died in 2019. In addition to her deceased husbands, Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Annette Calfee; her sister, Mary Clark Llewellen; her brother, Edward Calfee; and her stepson, Mark Stewart. She is survived by sons Joseph Bruner (Helen) and James Bruner, daughter LeAnn Smithson (Martin), and step-daughters Kim Mowery (John) and Laura Ghiazza. Helen was blessed with eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. The family wants to express its sincere gratitude to the dedicated staff of professionals, nurses, and caregivers at Little Creek Nursing Center for the exceptional care and affectionate support given to Helen during her time as a resident. A Memorial Celebration of Life will be scheduled for a date to be determined later. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials should be sent to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 7001 S Northshore Dr, Knoxville, TN, 37919 or to The Holston United Methodist Home for Children, 404 Holston Dr, Greeneville, TN 37743.

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Helen Bruner Stewart

March 4, 1928 - January 9, 2026