Deborah Newman

She left this earth Feb 10, 2016 after a battle with throat cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents and her 2nd mother Patricia Sparks Newman.

She is survived by sisters. Dolores Prescott\Michael Conley, Doris Newman\Skully Scrudder all of Fort Smith, Patty\Doug Cameron of Uniontown, Step Brother Jimmy Douglas of Spiro. Her special friend Daniel Lee Allen, Special Niece Lori/Toney Westberry of Liberty, OK

Debbie attended Fort Smith Hope Center for exceptional children in 1966, Forrester Davis in Clarksville in the 90's. Upon her parents death she lived with her sister Doris and attended Abilities Unlimited in Van Buren. With her cancer diagnosed in July 2014, she lived with and blessed her niece Lori Davis Westberry and husband Toney Westberry in so many ways.

Debbie was special needs and one of her greatest joys was Special Olympics where she competed as a ribbon winning Bocce Player. She never met a stranger, she loved fishing, her family, dreams of going to heaven and seeing her parents again. She was so proud to be Catholic and loved going to Mass with cousin Randy Kern and his wife, Debbie Kern.

Words cannot describe her. She touched so many lives with her innocence, Everyone who met her was blessed by her presence. The world will not be the same. We may have said goodbye to a shining star but there is a new angel in heaven. All of us want to thank God for the 64 years he allowed her here on earth. She taught us patience and understanding. Do not feel sorry for SPECIAL PEOPLE like Debbie, they are the blessed ones. She did not see the ugliness of the world. She enjoyed the spring rain on her face, a rainbow in the sky, a new bracelet for her wrist. She thought she had beat the cancer and only had a throat infection. With her love for Elvis she looked forward to going to Graceland & returning to Branson to see Tony Roi (Elvis impersonator). Most of all she was excited because she was making plans to go to assisted living with her own apartment with the help of home aids. We let her cling to these dreams because she deserved the happiness of leaving a lasting legacy to her family and friends. Our consolation is she is waiting for us.

We hope all will visit with her and the family at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith Monday 5-7 pm and Tuesday to celebrate her life at St. Boniface Catholic Church 1:00 pm with interment in the National Cemetery in Fort Smith.

Pallbearers will be Chance Tole, Randy Kern, Steve Gordon, Bruce Fulmer, Daniel Allen, and Scott Burt. Honorary pallbearers will be the Students and Staff at Abilities Unlimited in Van Buren, Arkansas.

Special Thank you to Sparks Cancer & Radiation team, Peachtree Hospice & we cannot forget her Dear Penny Penny. A even bigger Thanks to Special Olympics for the (GIFT) you have given her.