Lavita Mary Mathews Newman, age 89, Hollister, Missouri

Lavita Mary Mathews Newman, (Mary), entered her eternal reward January 23, 2024, at the age of 89 years, three months, and six days. 

Services are planned for Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at New Life Temple, Hollister, Missouri. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., memorial service at 11:00 a.m., and a light lunch following the service in the family center of New Life Temple. Pastor Danny Burd will officiate.

Mary was born October 17, 1934, to Claude Lee and Sedenia Mary Mathews of St. Louis, Missouri, the eighth of eleven children.

In 1985, Mary graduated from North Arkansas College in Harrison, Arkansas, with a degree in Licensed Practical Nursing. She specialized in geriatric care. 

While working at a local nursing home, she cared for Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, wife of Dr. M. Graham Clark, founding President of the College of the Ozarks. Dr. Clark convinced her to become their private duty nurse. She served both Mrs. Clark, and then upon her death, Dr. Clark for eleven years.

Mary volunteered at the Taneyhills Library Thrift Store for several years. She was an avid reader. She read almost every large print book in the library. 

Mary accepted Jesus as her Savior as a small child. On the day Israel became a nation, May 14, 1948, she received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. She lived a life devoted to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and loved attending church at New Life Temple, Hollister.

In addition, she was a generous and purposeful supporter of Christian Missionaries in Haiti and the Philippines. 

She was preceded in death by her son, Kevin Charles Newman, and her daughter, Mary Newman Thornton, who likely received her home with joyous laughter and excited chatter. She was also preceded in death by one granddaughter, Brandy Newman.

Mary is survived by four children: Keith and Wendy Newman, of Windom, Minnesota; Kent Newman of Parker, South Dakota; Joyce and Jeff Sidfrid of Houston, Texas; and Gaye Lisby of Branson, Missouri.

She is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Kevin Newman, Jr., Jacob Lisby, Bethany Lisby Stabo, Sarah Lisby Graham, Jesse Lisby, Tyler Jennings, Samantha Newman Crawford, Richard Newman, Tiffany Thornton, Jessica Thornton Gragg, David Thornton, James Newman, Angelina Newman, and Marissa Newman; 14 great-grandchildren: Kitiana and Thomas Newman, Josiah, Miranda and Noa Stabo, Adelaide and Genevieve Lisby, Timothy and Matthew McGugin, Johnathan and Liara Gragg, Sebastian Newman, Archer Newman and Baby Graham coming in July.

She is also survived by one sister, Juanita Ewing of Florissant, Missouri.

She will be buried at a later date in Turnbough Cemetery, near Steelville, Missouri, the ancestral land of her people. 

Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Cremations of the Ozarks. To leave an online condolence or share a memory, please visit www.cremationsoftheozarks.com.