Mary Laurence Newell

Mary L. Newell, 94, of Abilene, passed away Tuesday, February 7, 2017 in Abilene, Texas. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday, February 12th at The Hamil Family Funeral Home 6449, Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. Funeral service will be 10:00 A.M. Monday, February 13, 2017 at the Baker Heights Church of Christ with Larry Sullivan officiating. Burial will be at 2:00 P.M. in the Spring Creek Cemetery. Mary was born in Millsap, Texas to O.W. (Will) and Susie Ellen (Poe) on June 29, 1922. She went to school at Pleasant Valley. She married J.T. Newell (Josiah Thomas) on September 30, 1943 in Louisiana. She worked as a Certified Medication Aide for Teakwood Manor Nursing Home in Stamford, Texas for 31 years. Before that she worked for Rio Grande Insurance and later Kentucky Central Insurance while she was raising her two daughters (Mary Ann & Veronica). After the passing of her husband J.T. in 1965 her son (Josiah) was a student at the University of Texas in Austin at the time of his dad's passing. She was a member of the Baker Heights Church of Christ. She enjoyed painting and had won awards for them at the art show at a local fair. She loved word searches and was a constant companion to the family cat Savanna and dog Mackenzie. She also loved to travel. She was preceded in death by her husband, J.T. Newell, parents, brothers; Jim Willett, Thurman Willett, Dewey Willett, Ira Willett, Jr. (O.W. Jr,) Willett, Sisters; Lillian Bledsoe, Vivian Peters, Ima Henry and Jean Morton., granddaughter, Heather Hannan. She is survived by her children; Josiah Newell of Abilene, Texas, daughter, Mary Ann Newell of Abilene and daughter Veronica Laurence Newell and her husband, Ed Wetzork of Waxahachie, Texas. Granddaughter, Donna Newell of Phoenix, Arizona. Great-grandchildren; Ashely Reyes, Chelsea Newell Rodriguez, Brendon Newell Rodriguez, Danny Peterson and Derek Hannon all of Phoenix, Arizona and a very special sister-in-law, Faye Willett of Mineral Wells, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews and many friends. Pallbearers will be Ed Cowart, Rodney Windell, Hank Davis, Floyd Miller, Wayne Newman & Charles Jacobs. Honorary Pallbearers will be Charles Beebe & Bill Baskett. Thank you to all the staff and doctors at Hendrick Medical Center for all the care and attention our mom received while a patient there: especially Trauma Center and floors C-6 and P-5 and the staff of The Oaks at Radford Hills.