James "Ron" Newman

James Ronald "Ron" Newman passed away at his home in Fairplay, Colo., Tuesday, October 22, 2019. He was born in Mountain Home, Ark., on January 12, 1948 to Loraine Echols and Bill Newman. Ron graduated from Morrilton High School, the University of Central Arkansas and Kansas State University where he received a master's degree in urban planning. He served his country in the United States Army National Guard for six years. He began his career in Little Rock with MetroPlan, the Capitol Zoning District, the Little Rock Planning Department and the Secretary of State's Office. He and his wife Jane and Mary and Robert Boyce founded the Hillcrest Neighborhood Softball League for girls in 1984. Reubel Funeral Home was the original sponsor. That softball league is still playing games in Allsopp Park. Many of those initial team members have daughters who have been blessed by that same sports opportunity. In his early childhood, music was a passion in the Newman family. He took his parents love of music and made it his own by teaching himself to play the guitar, piano, banjo and mandolin by ear. He loved playing guitar and singing with friends and Jane in a popular local band known as "Little Joe and the BK's". An avid outdoorsman, Ron and Jane moved to Colorado in 1997 to live their love of God's Creation in the mountains. He continued his planning career and pursued a Colorado teaching certificate, teaching and coaching middle school football and high school baseball in Fairplay, Colo. After retirement he increased his snow skiing, mountain biking and hiking and fly fishing. He also formed a new band called "Harvey's Mill" and played the mandolin at church. Ron had a special love for his many close friends and large family, including in-laws and former in-laws. He was a devoted father, brother, grandfather, uncle and great uncle to all the family. He was also known as "Pops" and "Uncle Silly Ron." He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Jane Gilleland Newman of Fairplay, Colo.; his daughter Ashley Newman Mosely of Little Rock; his grandsons Luke Mosely and Cole Dodson of Little Rock; and sisters, Nancy (Glen) Acre of Maumelle, Ark., and Kay (Roger) Trotter of Navarre, Fla. The family wishes to thank friends, family and Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church for their love and care to the family for over 50 years living on this earth--and the wonderful teaching, shepherding, church services, weddings and funerals. A memorial service and celebration of Ron's life will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, October 29 at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Gilleland Endowment, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Foundation, 4823 Woodlawn, Little Rock, Ark., 72205. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.