Kay Lynn Creekmore Newell – Obituary

by Lynn McMillen
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F.5.10.19 Kay Newell.jpg Kay Lynn Creekmore Newell, age 65, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, May 7, 2019. Visitation will be on Saturday, May 11, 2019, at the Red Bay Free Will Baptist Church from 12:00-3:00 PM, followed by a funeral service at the church at 3:00 PM. Her son-in-law, Joel Davis, pastor of Westside Baptist Church, Talladega, AL, will officiate with assistance from Steve Lindsay and David Corum of Red Bay Free Will Baptist Church. Interment will be at the Red Bay City Cemetery. Deaton Funeral Home, Red Bay, AL will be in charge of arrangements.

Kay was born on October 5, 1953, in Russellville, AL, to Raymond and Edith Creekmore. She lived her entire life in Red Bay, graduated from Red Bay High School in 1972 as co-valedictorian, then attended Northeast Mississippi Junior College. At Northeast, Kay participated in the band and majored in music education with an emphasis on piano, earning her associate degree and graduating summa cum laude.

Upon graduation, Kay married Robert Newell in 1974 and began her first career teaching private piano lessons from 1974-1989, building a thriving studio where she often taught over 60 students per week. In 1986, Mrs. Newell enrolled in the University of North Alabama and started preparing for her second career as an elementary teacher. She graduated summa cum laude from UNA in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree with dual certification in both elementary and early childhood education. While teaching at Red Bay Elementary, she returned to UNA and earned a master’s degree in 1994. Before retiring in 2013, she taught several different grades at Red Bay during her 24 years of service. During her teaching career, second grade was her favorite grade to teach, and she was selected as Teacher of the Year during the 2009-2010 school year.

Kay attended Red Bay Free Will Baptist Church from 1956 until her death, and starting at the age of 13, played either the piano or organ nearly every Sunday for over 50 years. She also taught Sunday School, VBS, and for many years co-directed the church’s children’s choir that competed annually at the National Association of Free Will Baptists.

Mrs. Newell was preceded in death by her mother, Edith Marie Gilliland Creekmore; and grandparents, Eugene and Estelle Gilliland, Hersey and Flora Creekmore, and Gurtie Carnes.

Kay is survived by her husband of 44 years, Robert Newell; son, Jerrod Newell of Northport, AL; daughter, Emily Newell Davis (Joel) of Moody, AL; grandsons, Noah and Micah Davis; father, Raymond Creekmore; brother, Keith Creekmore; niece, Madison Creekmore Adkins, and numerous cousins, friends, and church family members.

Kay enjoyed spending time with her family cooking meals and celebrating holidays, spoiling her grandsons, growing flowers, and participating in church activities. Her family would like to thank the staff at Kindred at Home and Hospice of North Alabama and numerous family members, special friends, and church family members for their love and support during Kay’s battle with cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests Gideon Bibles be purchased in her memory.

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