Oct. 4, 1913 – July 31, 2007
Rita Isabelle Newport, 93, of Sweet Home, died July 31, 2007. She was born in Hagler, Neb., to Harry and Mary Ann (Stastny) Fish.
She was one of eight children. They moved to Bromley Ranch, Kan., then to Culbertson, Neb. in 1917.
She married James Frank Newport on July 25, 1933 and moved to Oregon in 1939. They then moved to Sweet Home in 1971.
Mrs. Newport had several jobs, including working in the shipyards as a pipe welder, head cook at Glacier National Park, nanny, restaurant owner and restaurant manager at Portland Airport before retiring to be a homemaker.
She enjoyed sewing making clothes for her children and grandchildren. She also loved baking and flower gardening.
She is survived by her daughters, Geraldine Newport-Bitz of Mulino, Dorothy A. Newport-Lomax of Gresham, and Linda R. Newport-Hyke of Portland; and Larry L. Newport of Lebanon, Daniel M. Newport of Wrangell, Alaska and Gregory M. Newport of Lebanon; 38 grandchildren and numerous great- grandchildren.
Mrs. Newport was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, in 1987; son, James Paul Newport in 1965; and daughter Myrna Lee Newport-Gunnels in 1999.
A memorial service will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 18, at St. Helen’s Catholic Church. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Helen’s Catholic Church at 815 5th Ave. Sweet Home, Oregon 97386