Lisa Kurtz

Lisa Michelle Kurtz, a beacon of warmth and laughter, left this world on August 22, 2025, but her spirit remains as vibrant as ever. Born on February 16, 1976, in the small town of Jourdanton, Texas to Maria Hernandez Stewart and Albert Lonnie Lafyette Stewart. Lisa passed away while hospitalized in Temple, Texas. She left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew her. Her theme song was "The Yellow Rose of Texas", and anyone who knew her would definitely describe her as one, beautiful and thorny.

Lisa was the kind of person who embraced many, if you needed something she would welcome you with open arms and say "you can call me mom". She was the eldest of three girls and she took the older sister role very seriously, some might even describe her as bossy. Though she was taken from us after a long fight with multiple health conditions, her own heart was nothing short of immense, filled with love for family, friends, and anyone who needed it. If you were someone she loved you could never forget it, blood relation meant nothing to her, family was what you made it, and once you made it in the family you were there forever regardless of your flaws. She LOVES fiercely and always showed up for others when needed. She struggled for years with her health conditions but she fought through it and would never let anyone count her out. On multiple occasions her family was told to say goodbye and she responded with "I'm not done fighting yet" and made the doctor's eat their words. Her body may have failed but her spirit never did.

Lisa is preceded by her paternal grandparents, Albert Samuel and Gertie Stewart, maternal grandparents Rudy and Carolyn Hernandez, parents, Maria and Lonnie Stewart, her two younger sisters Susan Hograves and Angel Stewart Speck. She is survived by her husband of almost 30 years, Michael Kurtz, her sons Tyler Stewart and Richard Kurtz, her daughters Kayla Kurtz and Hailey Moore, and her adored, and admittedly favorite people, her grandchildren Ellie Barnes, Damon Moore, Bryan Kurtz, and Victoria Moore along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends. They will all continue to cherish the countless joyous memories she created and keep her unforgettable memory alive.

In her role as a homemaker, Lisa mastered the art of unconditional love and support. Her home was a sanctuary for the lost, the hungry, or just anyone in need of a hug. It was said that Lisa's open-door policy was as steadfast as her attempts at gardening, which, despite her infamous brown thumb, she pursued with the same enthusiasm she brought to every aspect of her life. She kept her home full of laughter, even if she was the only one laughing at the joke. Her favorite way to spend her day was cuddled up with one of her grandbabies getting all the snuggles she could, a good nap was the best medicine in her eyes. Lisa was a devout Christian, and her faith was evident in her daily actions and the way she treated others. She believed in the power of unconditional love and the healing it brings. Her love for her grandchildren was unparalleled, and she often let everyone know that they were her greatest accomplishments. Whenever she had a hospitalization the first thing she told her nurses was that she was a Nanny to four beautiful babies and showed them pictures, loving to show off her babies at any given opportunity. Her family was built "brick by brick" with her love, laughter, and the occasional tire iron. Her family in turn, were the light of her life, each one a unique reflection of her spirit and tenacity. She taught everybody to never let yourself be counted out and even if you have to be a little thorny nothing held you back but yourself.

Lisa's legacy is not just in the family she adored but in the laughter she inspired and the lives she touched. She had a way of making everyone feel like family, and her absence will be felt by many. Yet, in true Lisa fashion, we imagine her now, tending the gardens of heaven, likely still with a brown thumb, but insisting all the while she was a great gardener. 

As we say goodbye to Lisa Kurtz, we do so with the laughter she would have wanted. Her life was a testament to joy, to family, and to the power of a good outlook. May we all carry a piece of her in our hearts and continue to share it with the world, just as she did. We will be remembering her by truly turning her into the Yellow Rose of Texas and celebrating her life in the way she loved to do the most, with a family gathering full of food, music and love.