A man tragically lost his life in Kerrville after floodwaters engulfed his home early Thursday morning, as confirmed by his family. John Mark Steward was inside when the deluge struck, according to a post shared by his wife, Jennie Steward, on social media.
Jennie, who was in Dallas at the time of the flooding, had reached out for assistance in locating her husband with a Facebook post at 9 a.m. on Thursday. Later that day, she shared the devastating news of his passing.
“Mark, my love, I will forever be grateful for the beautiful years we shared together,” she wrote. “You made me be a better person. I love you all.”
While staying with her mother in Dallas, Jennie’s family refrained from commenting further on the situation. Friends and relatives remembered John Mark Steward fondly, highlighting his character as a caring husband and expressing appreciation for those who supported the family during the agonizing hours of uncertainty.
“He was a good man and he loved Jennie so,” noted Steward’s brother, Stephen, on Facebook, reflecting on the inexplicable nature of such tragedies.
John Mark Steward was a proud graduate of Westlake High School in Austin, Class of 1979. He was known for his athleticism, participating in football and track, as well as his vocal talent in the school’s choir, the Madrigals. Numerous former classmates took to social media to share their condolences and fond memories.
“Westlake Nation lost a legend to the flood waters near Kerrville this morning,” read a post from the Westlake athletics department.
In related news, Texas Governor Greg Abbott reported that at least one person died overnight after being swept away in an RV in Comfort, a city situated southeast of Kerrville. However, it remains unclear if this individual is John Mark Steward. KERA has not been able to independently verify Steward’s identity or the circumstances surrounding his death with law enforcement or the medical examiner.
Additionally, the Uvalde Police Department reported that a 74-year-old man died Thursday morning after his vehicle was caught in floodwaters, having ignored law enforcement’s warnings against proceeding on the roadway.
This area has a history of severe flooding, with a devastating incident last year that claimed the lives of 130 individuals, including 25 campers and two counselors at Camp Mystic, a long-established summer camp for girls along the Guadalupe River.
