Sharon “Jill” Newell

Sharon “Jill” Newell was born to Willie & Mary Gardner November 5^th, 1949 in Bastrop Louisiana.  She grew up in Mississippi, graduating from Horn Lake High School.  Several years later she was blessed with the beginning of her family, her son John was born & five years later her daughter Donna.  Eventually the family moved to Valley Center, Kansas, where Jill met the love of her life, Charles Newell.  They met in 1989 and married July 11, 1991.  Jill was the epitome of southern charm and hospitality, demonstrating through her interactions and relationships what a big heart she possessed.  When describing Jill, it would be appropriate to say she was a southern belle and that she was a genuine, caring and loving woman.  Jill loved gardening and a wide array of flowers but was particularly fond of daisies & pansies, she took joy in painting, crafting, and enjoyed poetry with Emily Dickinson being a classic favorite.  She was an active member in the community and in her church & known to many children as “Grandma” in the community.  She is preceded in death by her mother, and brother Terry Gardner.  She is survived by father, daughter Donna Leftwich, son John Sullivan, Sisters Felicia & husband Kyle Ellis, and Lecy Gardner, brother Joel & wife Wanda Gardner, grandchildren Austin Leftwich, Hannah, Hailey & Hunter Sullivan.  Visitation will be held Thursday June 12^th, 2014 from 5-9 P.M. at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton, Kansas with family greeting friends from 5-7 P.M. Funeral Service will be held Friday June 13^th, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Luke Evangelical Church in Newton, Kansas.  Burial will immediately follow service in Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks for memorials to be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or St. Luke Evangelical Church for the youth.