Mary Etta Newberry

Mary Etta Newberry, 87, Blair, departed this life at Grace Living Center in Mangum on Thursday, October 30, 2014, after succumbing to a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Monday, November 3, 2014 in the Kincannon Memorial Chapel with Pastor Jan Ivan Oden and Mitch McLaughlin officiating. Interment will follow in the Blair Cemetery under the direction of the Kincannon Funeral Home. Mary was born on March 5, 1927 to Robert Mack and Enid Theta Gray in Quinton, Oklahoma. The first of nine children in the family, she was lovingly referred to as “Sis” by her brothers and sisters. She grew up in the small rural community of Ash Creek, located near Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton, Oklahoma, where she graduated from school. On June 2, 1947, she married her best friend’s older brother, Jack Newberry, who had grown up across the mountain from her in Patterson, Oklahoma. He had just returned home after World War II and soon their courtship ended in marriage. She and Jack set out on an adventure together that would last 43 years. They raised a family of four children – two girls and two boys – and after years of moving from place to place with Jack’s job with Oklahoma Seismograph Company, they finally settled in the small southwest town of Blair where they have lived since 1956. Jack preceded her in death in 1990. Mary continued to live in their home on Warren Road until her health forced her to leave. She was presently living at Grace Living Center in Mangum. Mary worked in Tripp’s Laundry Mat and eventually went to work at Blair School as a cafeteria cook and stayed there 18 years, retiring in the late 1970’s. She will always be known as the “best yeast roll and donut maker” in the entire family. Both Jack and Mary were active in the order of the Blair Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as worthy matron. She was later active in the Mangum chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mary was also a member of the Oklahoma Home and Community Education – Jackson County and the local Blair chapter, Great Expectations. In 2005, she was named Jackson County OHCE Member of the Year. She was an accomplished painter, seamstress and crafter and won many blue ribbons at the Jackson County Fair. She was an avid reader, often finishing a book a day. Her favorites were books on Native Americans and the early settling of the West. Mary loved country and western music, and she loved to “two-step.” One could find her on Thursday nights at the Senior Citizen Dance in Altus and on Saturday nights at the Senior Citizen Dance in Cooperton. She especially loved watching any sporting events that her children and grandchildren were participating in. She seldom missed a game. She was a faithful member of the Blair First Baptist Church until her health began to decline. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack; her daughter, “Suzi” Young; one sister, Norma; two brothers, Marvin and Walter; a grandson, Dustin Newberry; and a granddaughter, Tara Farmer Newberry. She is survived by her daughter, Marilyn McLaughlin and husband, Gary, of Blair, OK; two sons, Charles “Skip” Newberry and wife, Velma, of Granite, OK and Larry B. Newberry and wife, Beverly, of Blair, OK; a son-in-law, Mike Young of Vacaville, CA; four brothers, Bob Gray and wife, Karyl, of Blair, OK, Donnie Gray and wife, Nelda, of Kingston, OK, Bill Gray and wife, Rose, of Blair, OK and Carl Gray and wife, Sheila, of Kingston, OK; a sister, Elveta Davis and husband, Tommy, of Blair, OK; a sister-in-law, Jackie Gray of Dalhart, TX; four grandsons, Shad Young of Vacaville, CA, Josh Newberry and wife, Estefania, of Blair, OK, Nathan Newberry of Sasabo, Japan and Mitch McLaughlin and wife, Jandi, of Blair, OK; two granddaughters, Haley Newberry of Altus, OK and Blair Sova of Vacaville, CA; a step-granddaughter, Gina Carter of Stuart, OK; and a step-grandson, Richard “Bubba” Hines of Ada, OK. She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren, Krista and Stevie Young, Allee, Abby and Logan Sova, Asher and Jalea McLaughlin, and Kennedy, Kade and Kyson Hines, as well as many nieces, nephews and a host of friends, especially the wonderful staff and caregivers at Grace Living Center. The family will receive friends from 3:00 – 5:00 PM Sunday at the funeral home. Additional parking for the service is available behind the funeral home, Best Western to the South or Western Sizzlin’ to the North. Family and friends unable to attend may log on to kincannonfuneralhome.com 30 minutes prior to the service, click on the “Live Services” tab, to view the live webcast of the funeral. TO VIEW THE LIVE WEBCAST, PLEASE CLICK BELOW! http://video.bchristian.tv/players/XZK2DHJ4-24w6OoqI.js