Beloved Pinon Mesa Middle School Teacher of twenty years, Kevin Stuart, passed away on Sunday, August 28th, after a yearlong leukemia-related health issue.
Kevin was a dedicated husband to Tina Stuart, a local teacher at Phelan Elementary School. Kevin believed in raising his two children with conservative values and spoke of his love for them often. Before teaching, Kevin was a deputy sheriff in Utah. Later he took a teaching job at Pinon Mesa Middle School in Phelan and taught there for 20 years. Kevin loved teaching math and science. He was dedicated to sustainability and loved teaching from the school’s greenhouse, which he was instrumental in obtaining for the middle school campus.
Friend and coworker Corina Weimer said Kevin “always had a smile on his face, and he was a person you just knew was there, even when you needed to vent.” He was a good friend. Kevin cared about his friends and loved to help. Once, he brought his whole family out to help with a garden project I was working on at the local park; the help was much needed and appreciated. Kevin invited me to co-teach in his science class on a life science project. He let people know they were valued, and most of all, he loved to talk about horticulture with me.
Kevin was a patriot, and he loved this country and discussing politics. Kevin was a dedicated teacher to many students, including my daughter Lilly. He kept her on task in class, reminding her it was not about a grade but about learning the material, they joked often, and she always had a story to tell about something he did or said in class. She was very sad about his death. Many colleagues posted on Instagram saying heartfelt things like, “Kevin was one of the best guys I know for sure, kids loved him, heaven gained a beautiful soul,” and “students respected him and avoided the trash cans, or they might end up in it, he loved to mess with kids.” Another said, “Kevin was a funny kind man. It was a privilege to know this amazing man; he made math and science a great experience.
There was never a dull moment with Kevin, and he always tried to make his students happier than when they came in. Kevin was the best middle school teacher we could ask for. You will be missed, Stuart.
