Kenneth Newman

Leslie Kenneth Newman, age 93, of Coleman, passed from this life on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at the Coleman County Medical Center.

The family will host a visitation from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, October 2, at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman.  A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 3, at the First United Methodist Church, 500 W. Liveoak Street, in Coleman with Dr. David Medley officiating.   Interment will follow in the Coleman City Cemetery.  Services are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home in Coleman.

Kenneth was born October 29, 1926 in Santa Anna to Ernest Calvin Newman and Zada Marion White Newman.  He grew up in Coleman and graduated from Coleman High School in 1944.  Kenneth enlisted in the United States Army in the spring of 1945.  He did basic training at Camp Walters in Mineral Wells and was later deployed to Europe where he was stationed at Le Harve, France.  He received an honorable discharge in 1946 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.  Kenneth received a degree in Accounting and Business Administration from the Gulf Coast Business School in 1949.  He was employed by the Rockwell Brothers and Company lumberyard as a bookkeeper, later being assistant manager, manager and then purchasing the business in 1979.

Kenneth married Dora Ann Jones in 1960.  They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on December 31, 2020.  Kenneth was a continually active member of the Coleman First United Methodist Church.  He was MYF leader in his younger years, then church school secretary, and later trustee.  He always sang bass in the Chancel Choir and in the Coleman County Choir. Kenneth was recognized in June of 2018 for 25 years as lay leader and honored as Lay Leader Emeritus.  He was also song leader for church services lead by First United Methodist Church at Holiday Hill.  He was president of Noon Coleman Lions Club for two years, served 12 years as Lions Club treasurer, and was president of the Coleman County Little League Association for two years.  Kenneth was elected and served a term as a school board trustee.  Kenneth was a charter member of the barber shop singing group “The Heartland Harmonizers” and sang bass with the group for 18 years.  He thoroughly enjoyed singing throughout his life, and the Barber Shop Quartet was extremely important to him.  He also enjoyed repairing things for people through the lumberyard, and later at his home.  Someone would call for a “quick fix” and he would go out of his way to get it done.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents; and his siblings, Lona Melba Saunders, Bessie Jewell Mayo, and Jack Webster Newman.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dora Newman of Coleman; his daughter, Leslie Cross and husband James of Coleman; his grandchildren, Mallory Cross and Josh Brown, Michael Watson, and Lane Watson; and great-grandson, Daniel Watson.

Memorials are suggested in memory of Kenneth to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 852, Coleman, Texas 76834 or to the donor’s favorite charity.

Remembrances, condolences, and messages of comfort can be expressed to the family at www.livingmemorials.com.

Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Newman Family.