Mary Young Newberry

Mary Young Newberry, 96, of Abilene, TX (formerly of Hamlin, TX) passed away Wednesday, March 28, 2012 following a brief illness. Funeral services will be 10:00a.m., Saturday, March 31, 2012 at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory St., Abilene, with Rev. Clyde Kieschnick officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8p.m. Friday, March 30th at the funeral home. Interment will be at 4:00p.m., March 31, 2012 in the Eastview Cemetery in Vernon, TX under the direction of Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory St.

Mary, the daughter of John Robert Young and Mollie Hendrix Young was born May 11, 1915 in Chillicothe, Texas, Hardeman County. Mary was the last survivor of a farming family of 11 that included 6 boys and 3 girls. She graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1932, and from there attended Hardin-Simmons University, where she was a member of the Cowgirls. Mary received her degree in Home Economics in 1936. At HSU she met and married the love of her life. She and Byron Vestal "Chink" Newberry were married October 11, 1936 in Anson, TX and lived happily together for over 57 years.

Following graduation from college, Mary and Chink taught school and coached at several places until settling in Chillicothe in 1942 when Chink was drafted into the Army Air Corps. Chillicothe was their home until they moved to Hamlin in 1948 when Chink was hired as the High School Principal. She lived in Hamlin until her move to Abilene in 1998. She was a member of First Baptist Church Hamlin over 64 years where she had been a Sunday School teacher and Superintendent of various Adult Sunday School Departments. She served on several committees of the church while living in Hamlin. She was a member of the Hamlin Hospital Auxiliary and former board member of the Jones County Cancer Unit and the Jones County Fair. She did graduate work at Texas Tech and Texas A&M. She taught Home Economics and first grade, prior to becoming the Jones County Home Demonstration Agent in 1955. She served as an Emergency War Food Assistant in Amarillo, TX. She was Home Management Supervisor of Farmer's Home Administration and Supervisor of WPA House Keeping Aide in Memphis and Breckenridge. She was a member of the National Association of Extension Home Economics, a member of the District Home Demonstration Agent's Association and a member of Epsilon Sigma Phi, a professional Extension Organization. Mary retired from the Extension Service in 1971 after serving 16 years as Jones County Home Demonstration Agent.

Mary and Chink loved to travel and went on 14 cruises that took them all over the world. Her house was adorned with many treasures that were purchased during their travels.

She was preceded in death by her parents John Robert and Mollie Young; husband Byron Vestal; son Dan; brothers Wendell, Winifred, Claude, Hollis, Paul, and Selby; sisters, Agnes and Betty Mae; and a very special granddaughter, Mollie Beth Newberry.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Van and Ann Newberry of Abilene; a daughter-in-law, Kay Newberry of Wolfforth; six grandchildren, Stacey and Richard Herring of Abilene; Shayne and Melissa Newberry of Tye, Todd and Kyra Newberry of Muleshoe, Cory and Tina Newberry of Plano, Amber and Jim Simmons of Chatham, IL, and Janice and Tim Emery of Stamford; fifteen great-grandchildren, Ricky, Meagan, Tyler, Michael, Austin, Reagan, Kamron, Tyler, Nicholas, Addyson, Gabriela, Keira, Bobby, Nicole, and Jonathan; plus several nieces and nephews.

Mary lived at Royal Estates and was a great ambassador. She was always telling people how she liked living there and was always telling folks "this is a good place to be". A special thanks goes to Royal Estates for the comfort and home style atmosphere they maintained for Mary during her stay. Mary always dressed up and looked nice, because in her words, "you never know who's going to come a knocking". The family also wishes to express appreciation to Dr. Laura Barber, for the loving care provided to Mary for several years, and to Hendricks Hospice for the love and comfort during her final days.

Serving as pallbearers will be Mary's grandsons and great-grandsons. Memorials may be made to a favorite charity.