Ronald G. Newport

Ronald G. Newport, 84, died July 9, 2015. He was born July 14, 1930, and grew up on a farm in Southern Kentucky. He was the eldest son of Elton and Permelia Newport. He served as an enlisted man in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He later served as an officer in a U.S. Army Reserve hospital "MASH" unit. He attended the University of Louisville and later earned an MBA from Georgia State University. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy (Dot), of Jacksonville; his daughter, Lisa Coalwell and husband Gib of Loveland, Colorado, and his grandson, Brandon Scott and wife Danielle of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Also surviving are his sister, Barbara Knight, and brothers, John, Roy, Stanley and David Newport. During his lifetime, he was a member of Mensa, the National Defense Executive Reserve, and various engineering societies. He was honored as a Kentucky Colonel, and as an "Outstanding Citizen of Arkansas. He received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award from President Bush, and was listed in "Who's Who of Finance and Industry." He was nominated for AARP's Andrus State Award for Community Service. In 2014, he received his highest honor – the Jacksonville Recycling Education Park was re-named the Ron Newport Recycling Education Park. He was a manufacturing and marketing executive for many years, and also owned three small businesses. He was named Missouri's "Exporter of the Year" in 1993. He taught at Southwest Missouri State University, Drury College, and Southwest Baptist University. He served many years as a Silver-Haired Legislator in both Missouri and Arkansas. After retiring in 1995, he became interested in "classic" country and bluegrass music, and learned to play the bass fiddle with "more enthusiasm than skill." After retiring to Arkansas, he became one of the founders of Keep Jacksonville Beautiful, and served as its Executive Director until July, 2012. Ron fought cancer for many years, and was honored to be treated by both Dr. Kewen Jauss and her caring staff. At the end, Arkansas Hospice helped him through their kind and loving care. His family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 11 at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home, 1504 J.P. Wright Loop Road, Jacksonville. A "Celebration of Life" will be held Sunday, July 12 at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.