Paxton, Anita Marie (nee Stewart), passed away, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. She is survived by her husband Scott, Sr., her sons Scott Jr. and Eric, her brother Kevin Stewart, her sister-in-law Marcene (Otte) Stewart, her daughter-in-law Kim (Donnelly), her grandchildren Audrey, Owen, and Harper, her dog Keeth, her grand dogs Aspen and Skipper, and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Anita grew up in a close Catholic family in Epiphany parish, near the Hill. Parish family life set the rhythm of her childhood. The family venerated its Irish heritage and took pride in their St. Louis roots. Anita's father, Tom Stewart, embodied the dignity and virtue of the faithful working man, following the example of Our Lord and His earthly father. He was active in the union labor movement. From an early age, Anita wanted to follow her mother Jeanne Stewart into the field of nursing. After graduating from Bishop DuBourg High School, she met her soulmate Scott in 1973 at a mixer for nursing and medical students; it was her first month at Jewish Hospital School of Nursing and his first month at Washington University Medical School. There was an instant connection. The couple waited to get married until one of them was working, which occurred when she became a registered nurse three years later. She worked in multiple different settings and medical centers in her nursing career, including the Mayo Clinic, as she accompanied Scott to several cities in his medical training. Scott, Jr. and Eric were born in 1980 and 1983, respectively. The family moved to Wichita, Kansas, in 1983 and remained in Wichita for 26 years. Anita was in her glory as a mother. She immersed herself in all the boys' activities. She also remained steadfast in her role as a wife, always supporting Scott in the demands of his medical career. She also participated fully in his extracurricular activities, such as founding and leading a Stephen Ministry program at their church, marathon running, and two pilgrimages to Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina to honor Our Lady. In 1999 she ran the Walt Disney World Marathon. She began modeling in the 1990s and even acted in a local commercial. Always the ultimate extrovert and "people person" who was just fun to be around, she participated in several local theater productions in Wichita. She had a wonderful, quirky sense of humor and made two trips to Hollywood to work one-on-one with a comedy and acting coach. She even tried her hand at stand-up comedy. An inveterate dog lover, she usually raised two dogs at a time and was described by the family veterinarian as the best dog mom in his practice. In 2011 the couple returned to St. Louis when their first grandchild (Audrey Claire) was born to Scott, Jr. and Kim. Anita was married to Scott, Sr. for 49 years, 8 months.

Services: Visitation at the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway, Ballwin, Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Special Nurse Honors Service at Schrader's at 10:15 a.m. Funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 17 Ann Avenue, Valley Park at 11:00 a.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Memory Care Home Solutions , 4389 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis MO 63108, and would be greatly appreciated. Friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.