Mary Louise Newell

Mary Louise (Greer) Newell, was born January 6, 1925 to the late Ira H. Greer and Elizabeth Ann VanSickle. After graduating high school she went to work in a defense plant in Kansas for two years before joining the United States Navy in June 1945. The Navy sent her to boot camp in Hunter College, NY. Her first “Liberty” was canceled due to a B-52 Bomber accidentally crashing into the Empire State Building in New York City on July 28, 1945. The day that World War II ended she was in the “Pepsi Cola Canteen” in Times Square, the site of the famous kiss photo taken on V.J. Day, August 14, 1945. Which was the “Greatest” place to be at that time. Mary's first duty station was at Naval Air Station, Norfolk, where she worked in payroll as a store keeper. At that time the Navy was paid in cash and it was her responsibility to count all of the money with the Payroll Chief. Her other duties consisted of making payroll deductions such as Navy Relief, dependents, housing, etc. Mary was married to Thomas Newell at the Chapel in the Woods, Naval Air Station in August 1946 and soon after was transferred to PAX River, MD for training as a flight attendant on MATS (Military Air Transport Service). She had one overseas flight to Bermuda before becoming pregnant and had to leave the Navy to become a mother. She was discharged from the Navy in December of 1946 in Washington D.C. In Washington D.C. Mary attended the Abbott Art Shoal for three years. In 1952 Mary and Tom moved to Virginia Beach, VA. She worked as in illustrator for a department store in Norfolk, VA for 18 years and then went to work for the Armed Forces Staff College as an Artist-Illustrator. Mary retired from there with 21 years of service. Mary and Tom had three children; Nancy, Billy and Scott. Nancy had one daughter Renee. Billy had one son Michael. Scott had one son, Jon Scott II and a daughter, Nicole. Mary was active in the American Legion, a member of Solo of Tidewater and was a volunteer at the Veteran’s Hospital. She was also an active member of Bayside Christian Church. She loved her country, she loved her family, and she loved her friends. She was preceded in death by her brother; Ira Haynes Greer and daughter; Nancy Sue Morgan. She is survived by her two sons; William Michael Newell and Jon Scott Newell, son in law Paul Morgan, two sisters; Frances Peach and Annabeth Stoddard (Howard), four grandchildren; Renee Burgess Dockiewicz, Michael Wayne Newell, Jon Scott Newell, II (Heather), Nicole Kampanis (John), and nine great grandchildren. There will be a private burial followed by a memorial service at Bayside Christian Church, 2224 Greenwell Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 on Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 11:00 am. Reception to follow at the church.