of Horseshoe Lake, AR
October 28, 1928 - December 12, 2023
Ben passed peacefully from this life on December 12, 2023. He was born on October 28, 1928 in Newellton, LA to Benjamin Young Newell and Bonney Mae Brown Newell.
He was a descendant of Edward Drumgould Newell, who founded the town of Newellton. He was raised in Newellton until he moved to Memphis to work with his brother, Ed in their family business. He married his wife, Jerry and retired to Horseshoe Lake, where he happily resided until his death.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his brother, Edward Henry Newell and his sister, Carrie Bonney LaCour of Baton Rouge. He leaves behind his nieces, Linda N. Browndyke of Dallas, Texas, Ginger N. Colquitt and husband, Tom of Shreveport; his nephew, Ned Newell and wife, Julie of Knoxville, TN and multiple great-nieces and great nephews.
He went by ''Ben''. We all called him ''Bar'' and loved to spend time with him. Even after the vagaries of aging robbed him of his mobility, his spirit was infectious… a wink and a sparkle in his eye as he would regale us with his humorous analysis of the state of the world. He was loved by all his neighbors and was selflessly generous with those whom he perceived to need his help. He was a kind, gentle soul and we will miss him greatly.
We would like to pay special thanks to Tim Dwyer, Roxie Kenny, Charlie Inmon and Fats Catron for their care and friendship.
Visitation is from noon until 2 pm on Tuesday, December 19th at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home, 201 Pine Street, West Memphis, Arkansas, as per his wishes, there will be no service. He probably said, ''Heck! I've already outlived everybody who would have been there!'' He will be laid to rest in Crittenden County Memorial Park in Marion, Arkansas.