Della Lois Newton

Della Lois Dowden Newton, age 97, passed April 30, 2017, surrounded by her loving family, in her granddaughter's home where she had lived for the past four years. She was the sixth child of Alfred and Amanda "Mandy" (Crisp) Dowden, born December 5, 1919 at Manes, MO. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at the age of 12. Della completed 8 years of school and one of her biggest regrets was that she didn't get to attend high school In 1939 she married Bland Crismon and to this union one son was born. In 1970 she married Leonard Newton. They lived in Mountain Grove until his passing in 1993. She loved to catch and eat fish, garden, cook and travel. Her greatest love was her immediate and extended family. The characteristics she will be remembered for was she was a people person. She was a caring person willing and ready to help in any situation. She belonged to the First Baptist Church of Republic. She loved her church and church family. Della was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and seven siblings, Ray, Myrtle, Roy, Velma, Ralph, Dorothy and Coy. Survivors include her son, Bob Crismon and wife Sharon; two granddaughters, Melaine Maples husband Brad and their children, Chandler and Hannah, and Lynn Melton and husband Jeremy and their children, Wyatt and Bailey; a brother, Carl Dowden; a step-son-in-law Jack Tackett; several nieces and nephews; other family members; special friend and caregiver Linda Schrader; and many friends. A visitation at First Baptist Church in Republic will be from 4:30 - 5:30PM Wednesday, May 3. The funeral service will be 11:30 AM Thursday, May 4, at Evening Shade Church in Wright County. There will be a visitation from 10:30 AM until service time at the church. Burial will be 3:00 PM Thursday in Rivermonte Memorial Gardens, Springfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Evening Shade Cemetery, 11072 Highway AF, Mountain Grove MO 65711.