Nell Chiles Newton

On this Thanksgiving Day, we give special thanks to God for our beautiful, precious mother and wife, who left this body and earth on November 16, 2012 in her own home where she resided for 50 years. She was born Orpha Nell Chiles on September 28, 1923 to Mable Johnson Chiles and James Curtis Chiles in Austin, Texas. She was their only child. She graduated from Austin High School in 1941. She worked at Scarbrough's on Congress Ave and also sold war bonds. She married Seaborn Wayne Newton on February 14, 1946. They were married for 66 years. They lived in various places for 22 years while he served in the US Air Force. They finally came home to Austin to stay in 1962. They had five children.

Nell was a radiant light to us all, our beautiful rock, faithful, loving, generous, kind, and devoted. She was the most selfless person the family ever knew. No one could have asked for a finer mother, or a more open, sweeter heart. She loved her family, her home, her beloved pets, music, nature's beauty, laughing, and Christmas. She was everyone's beloved mother who ever met her. Oh, how can we bear the pain of her loss? She will be remembered for her tremendous generosity, her gifts, her sense of style, and class, and her fabulous family celebrations. The biggest was Christmas, with gifts piled high for each and everyone and a warmly decorated tree and home. She was an excellent artist who created magnificent oil paintings. Just like her paintings, she started each day with a new canvas. She brushed vibrant, beautiful colors into each and every day. She was a homemaker, wife, and mother with dignity.

She was preceded in death by her father, James Curtis Chiles; her mother, Mable Johnson Chiles Swenson; her step-father, Harry Aubrey Swenson; her son, Steven Wayne Newton; her son-in-law, Glen "Butch" Tennill; and her grandson, Richard Loya.

Nell is survived by her husband of 66 years, Seaborn Wayne Newton; daughters Sandy (Jimmie) Anderson, Dawnell Dayton, Christine (Michael) Studebaker, son Glenn Hollis Newton, and daughter-in-law Jana (Steve) Newton; grandchildren, Jennifer Caster, Travis Tennill, Nicholas Wayne Newton, Kaitlyn Studebaker, Emily Studebaker, Caleb Studebaker, Macauley Newton, Riley Newton, and Delaney Newton and great grandchildren; Levi Max Loya, Hayden Allen, Mason Allen, Jagger Caster, Caleb Michael Studebaker, Evan Studebaker, and Isabel Studebaker. She will be missed by her beloved and loyal four legged companion Bej`ee.

The family will receive friends and share remembrances on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 from 6-7:30 PM at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Austin Humane Society.

Condolences may be made at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.