Carolyn D. Newport

Carolyn D. Newport

Alva Carolyn Davis was born August 4, 1928 in Mountain Grove, Missouri and died October 10, 2015 in Springfield, Missouri. Most of her childhood years were spent in Cabool, MO, where she was nurtured by her wonderful parents, Grant and Era Davis. She was a curious, active child who liked to climb trees, only to be rescued by her father. Her third grade teacher exclaimed that she had "a heart as big as her head", an apt prediction of her life.

The family moved to Springfield where she graduated from Greenwood High School, attended SMS, and then completed a degree at Stephen's College, Columbia, MO.

She married her sweetheart, Russell Newport, June 29, 1948 at First Baptist Church in Springfield, MO. She met him first in Cabool, as he and his brother, John, were leading a youth revival. She became a homemaker and mother to sons Mark, Steve and Timmy. It was the birth of Timmy, born with Down Syndrome, that sparked a career of trying to enhance the lives of those with severe mental and physical disabilities. As such, over fifty years ago, she became the founding president of the ARC of the Ozarks. She served many years on the Missouri State Mental Health Commission, including the chairmanship. She was instrumental in the formation of the first school in Missouri, exclusively for the benefit of the severely disabled. For her efforts, she was awarded Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree by Southwest Baptist University in the year 2000.

She loved her church family and many friends she made through the years. She and her husband enjoyed several trips with close friends, during which, hours of Rook would be played. She taught young college women in the Sunday school at First Baptist and provided them with breakfast on Sundays.

Above all, she loved and cared for her family, providing spiritual and emotional support, empathy, and encouragement for all endeavors, including the extensive singing career of her husband.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sons, Steve and Timmy, and granddaughter, Sarah.

She is survived by her husband, Russell; and son, Mark (Terry) of Springfield, MO; daughter-in-law, Gaynell of Frisco, TX; sister, Patty Ellis, Cheyenne, WY; and special sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen Newport Zorbaugh, Columbia, MD; and Patsy Newport, Tulsa, OK. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Luke Newport (Sarah) and their daughter, Maggie, St. Peters, MO; Anna Newport Stover (Andy) and their children, Henry Jake, Taylor and Weston of Santa Monica, CA; Charissa Newport Smith (Thom) and their children, Brady, Emily and Addie of Frisco, TX; Ben Newport, Frisco, TX; Jonathan Newport, Washington, D.C.; Matthew Newport (Katie) and their children, McKenzie and Ella, Springfield; Devon Newport, Springfield; and Ian Newport, Cleveland, OH. She is blessed to be survived by many cousins, nephews and nieces, and was especially fond of her niece and namesake, Carolyn Ellis Nix, Wheatland, WY; and her niece, Susan Ellis Matthews, Anchorage, Alaska.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 16, 2015 in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 East Seminole, Springfield. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 17, 2015 in First Baptist Church of Springfield, MO. Burial will follow in Maple Park Cemetery.

Her greatest desire would be to continue to support the ARC of the Ozarks and any contribution may be sent to 1501 East Pythian St., Springfield, MO 65802, in her honor.

"With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgement. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow." Proverbs 3:5-6