Mary Alice (Odum) Newell

Mary (Odum) Newell, 97 years old of Marion, Illinois passed away peacefully on August 10, 2023, at Integrity Healthcare.  Mary was born on October 24, 1925, the daughter of William Roy Odum and Nellie (Pulley) Odum.  She grew up in Marion but did spend a short time in Chicago during her young adult years.

She married John Thomas Newell on September 9, 1947. They shared 49 years of marriage until his passing in 1996.  Together they had two children, Phyllis and William.

Mary enjoyed a very active lifestyle. Her hobbies included vegetable gardening and canning, planting beautiful flowers, decorating for the Christmas holiday, and spending time with her family.  Her family was where she found her greatest joy.  She is remembered for all of the extra special things she always did for others, such as playing with her granddaughters when they were little, teaching them to cut patterns out of fabric and creating doll clothes. She enjoyed cooking for her family, and some of her best recipes include chicken and dumplings, delicious cinnamon sugar toast, and her family- famous chocolate chip cookies.

Mrs. Newell is survived by her daughter Phyllis (Charles) Murphy; her granddaughters Heidi (Laren) Evetts and Micah (Tommy) Colboth; her great-grandchildren Christian Owsley (Fiancé, Bailey Crisp), Sidney Owsley, Callaway Colboth, and Moriah (Jacob) Payne, and Caleb Evetts; her cousin June Blumenstock; along with other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband John Newell; her sister Anne Odum, and an infant son William Estes Newell.

Binkley-Ross Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements, under the direction of Monte Blue and Joni Binkley-Ross.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 13, 2023, from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Binkley-Ross Funeral Home located at 1702 West Boulevard Street, Marion, Illinois.  Funeral services will begin at 2:00 p.m. with Bob Dickerson officiating.  Interment will immediately follow at Rosehill Cemetery. In lieu of customary remembrances the family requests with gratitude that memorial donations be directed to First Baptist Church Building Fund or Hospice of Southern Illinois.  Visit www.binkleyross.com to leave online condolences.