NEWMAN, BOBBY GENE - Union County, Arkansas | BOBBY GENE NEWMAN - Arkansas Gravestone Photos

Bobby Gene NEWMAN

Smackover Cemetery
Union County,
Arkansas

Mary - November 23, 1929 - May 30, 1997
Bobby - October 1, 1926 - March 3, 2013

*Obituary
Bobby Gene Newman, 86 of Smackover, passed away in his sleep at his home on Sunday, March 3, 2013. Bobby was born on October 1, 1926 to Benton Albert and Mary Louise Roan Newman in El Dorado, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 45 years, Mary Elizabeth Raper Newman, and a daughter, Molly Gay Newman. He was a 1944 graduate of El Dorado High School, a 1950 graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, and received his Masters Degree from the University of Arkansas. Mr. Newman was also a veteran of the United States Navy.
A man of great faith and conviction, he was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in El Dorado, Arkansas where he attended Sunday School and participated in many activities. As a young man, he and his first wife joined Maple Avenue Baptist Church as it was being built. He participated in the actual building of the church, raised his family as a faithful member, taught Sunday School, Training Union, and served as a Deacon for many years.
He was the owner and President of Smackover Insurance Agency, Inc., in Smackover, Arkansas for 50 years and continued to work every day until his recent hip replacement surgery on September 18, 2012. Bobby loved nothing better than to get up every day and go to work where he was able to visit with customers, friends, and anyone else who ventured in his office to talk.
As a 30 year member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, he prided himself in helping the people of South Arkansas. During his 30 years in the Arkansas House of Representatives, from 1969 to 1998, he was a member of the prestigious Arkansas Legislative Council from 1970-1998, where he served as the Chairman during 1987-88. Education was a passion of Mr. Newman's, and he spent his entire time as a Representative as a member of the House Education Committee, being vice chairman 1983-1990 and the Chairman in 1991-1994. He also served on the Joint budget, Insurance and Commerce, and Rules Committees.
Some of his proudest accomplishments as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives include co-sponsoring the Arkansas Breast Cancer Act, sponsoring legislation creating the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover, Arkansas, co-sponsoring the legislation creating Southern Arkansas University-El Dorado Branch, now known as SouthArk Community College and Southern Arkansas University Tech in East Camden, Arkansas. He was also instrumental in creating four lane highways from Smackover to El Dorado and El Dorado to Junction City. The portion of highway on Highway 7 connecting Smackover and El Dorado was recently dedicated and named in his honor as the Bobby G. Newman Bypass. He was very proud to co-sponsor the legislation which created Arkansas' Area Health Education Centers and making sure South Arkansas had a branch of AHEC in South Arkansas. He also had a soft spot for his work with our rural Water Associations, rural fire Departments, and acquiring natural gas for the communities of Lisbon, Lawson, and three Creeks.
Mr. Newman considered himself to be a public servant committed to serving the people who elected him to his seat in the Arkansas Legislature and anyone else who needed help. He also expressed many times that he was not a Democrat or Republican, but instead - An American. A true southern gentleman, he also referred to himself as a statesman, and not a politician. He had impeccable character and integrity with his first loyalty to God and his own convictions. He made it a practice to never compromise his principles.
During his active life he enjoyed being a member of the Smackover chamber of Commerce, where he served as president, a member of the Smackover Lions Club, Smackover Public Library Board of directors, coached Little League, was a member of Friends of the Museum, and served as a Gideon. He worked tirelessly to with other Smackover men to form Pine Hills Country Club and displayed his membership card as member #2 very proudly. In recent years he enjoyed being a member of the South Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors and attending performances of the South Arkansas Symphony.
He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Joan Martin Brasher Newman; a son, Brad Newman of Little Rock; a daughter, Lacy Newman of Smackover; two brothers, A.G. (Joann) Newman, and Donald Ray Newman of El Dorado; three grandchildren, Tyler (Trisha) Rogers of Smackover, Tanner Rogers of Little Rock, and Mary-Christa Rogers of Smackover. He was "Papaw Beege" to two special great-granddaughters, Meg and Elle Rogers, also of Smackover, and was also survived by a brother-in-law, Jamie Raper of Warren. Also surviving Mr. Newman are two step daughters, Debbie (John) Rees of Little Rock, Pam Beebe of El Dorado, and a step-son, Kenny Brasher of Monroe, Louisiana, eight step-grandchildren, 14 step-great-grandchildren, two nephews, one niece, and a host of great friends.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be at Maple Avenue Baptist Church in Smackover, Arkansas at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, 2013. Burial will follow at Smackover Cemetery under the direction of Young's Funeral Directors.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Smackover Public Library, 700 Broadway, Smackover, Arkansas 71762, the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, 3853 Smackover Highway, Smackover, Arkansas 71762, and the Breast Cancer Charity of their choice. An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.

Contributed on 3/27/17 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1182384

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Submitted: 3/27/17 • Approved: 8/29/19 • Last Updated: 2/24/20 • R1182384-G1182382-S3

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