Iva Myrtle Newnam

December 21, 1918 - July 2, 2011

Iva Myrtle Newnam, 92, of Frankfort, the widow of Ottis Newnam, passed away Saturday morning, July 2, 2011, at her home. She was born on December 21, 1918, in Anderson County, Kentucky to Jesse Templeton and Mattie Belle Cook Sullivan. Her life work and calling was for children and she was involved in many a child’s formative years, which started with some of her siblings and her own children and grandchildren. On January 1, 1938, Myrtle married the love of her life and childhood sweetheart, Ottis Newnam. They enjoyed a happy life together until his death in 1971. Together they loved and cared for the six children that God blessed to their union. Surviving are: Martha Wiley, O. Gilbert Newman (and wife, Millie) both of Frankfort, Nancy L. Newnam, of Glasgow, and Rick G. Newnam (and wife, Kay) of Richmond. The two children that preceded her in death were Phyllis Ruth Young and her four-year-old son, Gary Lynn. Myrtle also leaves eight grandchildren, Marvin Wiley, Jr., Ruth Wiley, Denise Fraley, Marilyn Surratt (Steve), James Michael Newman, Larry Glenn Young, Kelly Newnam Chumley (David), Randy Newnam (Amanda); two step-grandchildren, Donna and Robert Heid and 10 great-grandchildren. Other survivors are her brothers, Donnie Sullivan (Elizabeth), Doug Sullivan and David Sullivan and two sisters, Elsie Franklin and Sue McGuffey. The one thing that she loved more than her family was her relationship with her Lord Jesus Christ. She was a faithful member of every local church that she had been a part of and served most recently returning to Thornhill Baptist Church of Frankfort where she had served many years prior. She was the epitome of love for and service to all people. In addition to her parents, her husband, and two of her children, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Lucille Newton, Isabelle Carter and Dorothy Slusher; five brothers, Jesse F., Elwood “Buddy” (whom she named), Harold “Bo”, Kenneth and Joe Sullivan; as well as two step-mothers, Helen McDaniel and Ethel Sullivan. She was a loving homemaker, who enjoyed cooking for family and friends. Myrtle loved babysitting, after her sudden retirement as a teacher’s aid for the Franklin County Council for Retarded Children. This followed the wreck of a school van on which she was riding as an attendant. She took great pride in “her” school, which she had a great part in starting. Previously, she had worked at the Frankfort State Hospital and School, initially, as a cook many years ago, and later as a nurse’s aid and a member of the federal Hospital Improvement Program at that facility. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 4, 2011, at LeCompte-Johnson-Taylor Funeral Home, with her son, Gil, officiating. Burial will follow in the family lot of the Switzer Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Marvin Wiley, Jr., Randy Newnam, James Michael Newman, Larry Young, Kyle Wiley, Michael Fraley, Brandon Pulliam and Robert Heid. Friends will be received from 3 – 7 p.m. Sunday at LeCompte-Johnson-Taylor. Donations in her memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, The Alzheimer’s Association or Hospice of the Bluegrass. Additional condolences may be expressed at www.orpfh.com