Thomas Ruben Newell

Thomas Ruben Newell was born in Laurel, Mississippi on July 20, 1953, to parents James Cleveland Newell, and Louie Dell Mayo.
Thomas had an adventurous childhood with siblings, Jimmy, Diane, Robert, and Rick growing up in rural Mississippi. Though he wasn't the youngest, he was the smallest of the group but that didn't stop him from earning the nickname "toughie". He was stubborn, determined and a fighter. These qualities would become the foundation of his life.
Like many boys his age in the South, he grew up racing cars, working on cars (rumor has it he always left one part out when putting them back together), hunting, fishing, and swimming in the creek.
When he got older, Thomas enlisted in the Army Reserves. Never limiting himself, Thomas was multi-talented and while in the Army Reserves, he was also a mechanic, lumberjack, and factory worker at Masonite.
While working at Masonite he met his beautiful wife, Carmen. It was love at first sight. They met in January of 1979 and were married on June 29 of that same year. The couple just celebrated 44 years of marriage.
Just four years into their marriage on August 9, 1983, Thomas was injured at work. That accident almost took his life. The months that followed were tough but so was he. During the accident, he suffered a spinal cord injury which left him a quadriplegic with limited use of his hands. In December of 1983 after months of surgeries, recovery, and rehabilitation, Thomas had enough and wanted to fight this battle on his own terms in the comfort of his home. His wife Carmen never left his side. While Thomas was relearning how to live his life in a wheelchair, Carmen was learning to care for him. She was his primary caregiver for 37 years.
Waiting for his return were his children and his extended family. The next few years weren't easy, but with the support of his family and countless friends, he became independent and learned to live in a "new normal."
Although doctors gave him limited time to live, he didn't allow that to stop him from living. He knew with his tenacity, God, his wife and family by his side, he could do anything. In the summer of 1988, Thomas, Carmen, Joanna, and Joseph moved to Orlando, Florida. The family bought a home and planted roots here.
Thomas didn't for one second let life in a wheelchair limit him. He was an active member at his church Calvary Assembly, where he also got rebaptized into the Pentecostal faith. He and his wife Carmen also volunteered with Meals-on-Wheels and did community clean-ups.
One of his biggest dreams in life was to provide for those around him. He ensured his family had a full life and was able to travel and have new experiences. He was active in his children's activities as they grew up. He got to watch Joanna and Joseph get married to their spouses, and then he jumped into the role of Grandpa, which was probably his most favorite role in life.
We could all take a page out of Thomas' book. Life is for living and that he did. At the time of his accident the doctors told them he had 8-15 years to live, and he defied the odds and lived another 30. During this time, he enjoyed swimming in the pool, playing on the computer, spending time with family, and showing off his marksmanship skills at the gun range. He later on shared his skills with his children.
In March of 2020, Thomas suffered an acute event that would once again have him fighting for his life. His family was even told to take him home from the hospital on hospice as he would not last the week. His faith in God and his family did not falter and he fought on. We as a family, were blessed with three more years with him in our lives, when his doctors gave him less than 10 years. Although his last few years were not spent how he had ever envisioned them, he never once complained as he knew that he was surrounded by love.
On the evening of June 29, 2023, he peacefully closed his eyes and went to sleep. His wife Carmen, was by his side, as she had been for 44 years. Thomas was a devoted husband and loving father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend.
He embodied the verse "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Thomas believed in Jesus Christ and knew in his heart he was saved. He knew that once he went to sleep, he would be in a better place. He always used to say "You're gonna miss me when I am gone." That we do. You are loved dearly and will be missed every day.