Evelyn Newton
Evelyn Newton, 85, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Visitation was Friday, Nov. 1, at Stacy-Wilkins Home, Goldthwaite. Services were Nov. 2 at Goldthwaite Church Of Christ. Interment was in Eastview Cemetery, Hamilton County.
Evelyn was born Nov. 15, 1938, to Mac and Dorothy Landua. She grew up in the Hamilton County community of Shive with a younger sister, Carole, and a younger brother, Dwight. Her daddy passed away when she was only 11.
After Mac’s death, her mother married Joe Menzdorf, and with that union, Evelyn gained two wonderful stepbrothers, David and Gene.
After her father’s passing, her life was less carefree as she took on more responsibilities in the household. Caring for her younger siblings helped mold her into a loving and gentle parent, grandparent and great-grandparent.
As a child, she was exceptionally tall, and she gained the nickname “Telephone Pole.” Even though she was tall in physical stature (just shy of six feet), “Nonnie” was even taller in the eyes of her family.
Evelyn met the love of her life, Billy Mac Newton. When they married on June 11, 1955, Evelyn was the tender age of 16, and Billy Mac was a more mature 19-year-old. Their love endured the test of time, as they were married for more than 68 years until Billy Mac passed on Feb. 1, 2024.
Evelyn was blessed with the gift of hospitality. She regularly hosted gatherings and cooked “from-scratch” meals for countless guests, including extended family, friends, ministers and their families on Sundays, workers of all kinds and countless others.
A fabulous cook, she also lovingly prepared three square meals a day for her family of seven, making sure to also have plenty for unexpected guests, which sometimes included friends of her teenage son, whose mothers may not have cooked quite as well as Evelyn.
Evelyn was an exceptional seamstress, making many dresses, even including her daughter Teresa’s wedding dress and veil. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren cherished the elaborate clothing and costumes she sewed for them.
She made and decorated many multi-tiered wedding cakes and birthday cakes for the public. She officially retired from the cake business after her son almost toppled a completed wedding cake by throwing a teddy bear at it, and after one of her tiered cakes collapsed in an un-air-conditioned building on a very hot summer day.
In addition to being a devoted house-wife and mother of five, Evelyn was a true cowhand. She helped deliver and bottle-feed hundreds of goats and calves. She drove feed trucks and hay trucks and rounded up cattle on four wheelers. She brought sack lunches to her husband and the crew of ranch workers. Evelyn assisted in goat drenching and cattle working. She adapted her exceptional sewing skills to stitch up goats as a field medic would, after bands of coyotes maimed them in ruthless attacks. She also had business savvy and kept all of the books for the ranch.
While Billy Mac was known as the disciplinarian, Mom was the nurturer. She was the heart of the family and the one who extended grace and love. She was definitely the go-between when her children messed up, acting as the mediator. When her children had done something good, they would often receive an indirect compliment from Dad through her.
She was the one who made birthdays and other events special and brought cheer to the holidays. She was her children’s first and most important Bible teacher, their room mother and supporter of her children’s school activities through her volunteerism. She was the glue that held the family together. Evelyn was extremely funny and often sarcastic. Her quick dry wit could be biting if one didn’t know the tender heart behind it. She always enjoyed a good laugh, especially in her later years. Even the antics and mishaps of Lucille Ball could not compete with Evelyn’s. She once accidentally blew up a washing machine by washing greasy jeans soaked in gasoline. She was stung in the mouth by a bee that got stuck in her peanut butter and broke an arm after stepping into an armadillo hole. She mangled her finger in the beaters of a running mixer. She Super-Glued her tongue to the roof of her mouth while opening the bottle with her teeth.
Her driving was usually questionable, totaling more than one vehicle, including her brand-new Buick, and severely damaging several more.
She also broke her toe by ramming a motorcycle into a tree while wearing flip-flops.
Her local dentist was on speed dial, perhaps due to her unparalleled love of sweets! She once chipped a tooth while loading cattle in a squeeze chute.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her father, stepfather, mother, brother Dwight, sister Carole, stepbrother David, sister-in-law Delores and especially her loving husband Billy Mac.
Evelyn’s living legacy includes many loved ones she has left behind, her children, Teresa and husband Robert Copeland, Dennis Newton, Darryl Newton and wife Diana, Sheryl Carothers and husband Bill, and Don Newton and wife Renae; her grandchildren, Dr. Curtis Copeland and wife Emily, Dianne Copeland Jones and husband Matt, Trenton Carothers and wife Tara, Peyton Carothers Tenpas and husband Dan, Ethan Newton and wife McKenzie, Lori Newton, Jack Newton, Keaton Carothers Trompler and husband Ryan, Kaci Newton Shelton and husband Ryan and Lily Newton, and also Max Storm, Jefferson Koen and Jackson Koen; her great-grandchildren, Evelynn Jones, Elizabeth Copeland, Audrey Copeland, Owen Jones, Merritt Tenpas, Oran Carothers, Hyatt Tenpas, Jett Tenpas and Sullivan Newton; her step-brother, Gene Menzdorf; and sisters-in law Martha Landua and Peggy Menzdorf; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. The family would like to express a special heart-felt thank you to every staff member of Legacy Estate in Comanche for their loving and compassionate care that allowed Evelyn to live her final days in such a joyful manner.
Memorials may be made to Cherokee Home for Children.
