Nita Louise Newman

Celebration of life: 2 p.m. Friday in the sanctuary at First United Methodist Church of Hurst, 521 W. Pipeline Rd., Hurst, 76053.

Nita devoted her life to helping others. She was a hospital chaplain in Houston at Hermann Hospital and at Harris Methodist Hospital in Bedford providing ministry and spiritual guidance to patients, family members and caregivers. She was a United Methodist minister for 20 years serving congregations at Bay Harbour UMC in League City, Genoa UMC in south Houston, Pleasant Retreat UMC in Thorndale, and Valley Mills UMC in Valley Mills. She helped start The Hospitality Apartments in Houston, providing free housing to cancer patients at MD Anderson and constantly volunteered in her community to help those in need.

She earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Abilene Christian University (where she was a member of the GATA social club); a master of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and studied at Perkins Theological Seminary. In her personal life, Nita was an accomplished artist and singer. She was chosen as a master of ceremony at the annual Abilene Christian University Sing Song choral competition in 1967. She was selected homecoming queen at Plainview High School in 1962. When she was not devoting her life to helping others, she was a committed mother and grandmother.

Nita was preceded in death by her parents, Kelly and Louise Moser Newman of Plainview.

Survivors: Her son, Kelly Short; her granddaughter, Madison Short; her stepmother, Iona Newman; her brother, Kelly Carl Newman; and several loving aunts, cousins and extended family.