Published: June 27, 2009 09:52 pm      

Lavilla “Ione” Newton

Lavilla “Ione” Newton

Services for Lavilla “Ione” Newton, 90, of Fairfield, and formerly of Elkhart, will be at 10 a.m. Monday, June 29, 2009 at Bailey & Foster Funeral Home in Palestine. Brother David Franklin will be officiating. Burial will follow at Palestine City Cemetery.

After a long and fulfilled life, Ione went to be with her Lord and many other beloved family members who preceded her in death.

She was born Nov. 11, 1918, in Fairfield to Joe Fred and Althea Roberts Emmons. She was a longtime Methodist. During her life she was a homemaker and caregiver to both the young and old.

Ione was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, W.C. “Mutt” Newton; and her only son, Lucky Newton.

She is survived by one daughter, Renee Gunnels and husband Gary; granddaughters, Misty McAdams and husband Craig, Amy Clark and husband Mike, all of Elkhart, and Kristy Oates and husband Steven of Fairfield.

She also was lucky enough to have spent many years teaching and loving her great-grandchildren: Larami and Colby McAdams, Kollin and Karson Pardue, and Justice Oates; and stepgreat-grandchildren: Calah and Sydney Clark.

God blessed Ione with a long and productive life. She continued to work on her farm and garden until weeks before her death. God blessed her with the gift of taking care of others, and she sat with many loved ones during their final hours. She also babysat many children and is still known in the community as “Gammy.” She prided herself in her family and her independence. She will be deeply missed by family, friends and her beloved dog, Crystal.

Pallbearers will be Danny Clyde Turner, Tom Anderson, Roger Parker, Bob Stroud, Bobby James and Ronny Bridges. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Tolar, Zelt Dunbar, Charles Dunbar and Jimmy McAdams.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Bailey & Foster Funeral Home, Palestine.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas, 75701 or David Foster Hospice Unit at Palestine Regional Medical Center.

To view online, leave condolences or sign guestbook, go to www.bailyandfosterfuneralhome.com