Mary Ellen Newell

Mary Ellen Newell, 80, of Linton, IN, passed away on May 23, 2026, in the comfort of her home, surrounded by the love of her family.

She was born on May 11, 1946, in Sullivan, IN, to Floyd & Ruby Hess, and grew up nearby in Graysville. After graduating from Sullivan High School, she went on to become a CNA, and that's the work she gave most of her life to. She cared for people at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes and Miller's Merry Manor in Sullivan, and she also spent years providing private care in people's homes. Mary Ellen had a way of putting her patients at ease. She loved to joke with them, and she could turn a hard day into one with a little more laughter in it. Mary Ellen was, after all, sassy and quick-witted. Half the time, you couldn't tell if she was being serious or not! That sunny disposition she carried sparked many friendships, and once you became her friend, you were family.

And family really was at the center of all of it. She married Floyd Newell on March 5, 1982, and they built a life full of laughter, yes, but also a steady stream of people around their table. Her fried chicken was the best around, and there was usually zucchini bread cooling on the counter and cobblers made to share. The garden got the same kind of attention her family did, and in the summer, she'd put up green beans and corn from whatever it gave her.

When she wasn't in the kitchen, her hands were usually busy with something else. Mary Ellen loved to embroider, latch hook, and Diamond Dazzle, and she was happy to sit and make something while she talked and laughed with whoever was in the room. She had a soft spot for animals of every kind, and she'd watch for hummingbirds at the window for as long as they kept coming back. She loved a car ride with no real place to be, simply taking in the beauty of the moment with someone she loved beside her. That's how Mary Ellen moved through her whole life, really. She was never in too much of a rush to notice what was good and never too busy for the people she loved. She laughed easily, loved deeply, and made sure the people around her knew they mattered.

She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Brown; her grandchildren, April Brown (Brendon Coons) and Lisa Brown (Tyler Trueblood); her great-grandchildren, Millie Coons, RJ Coons, and Jaceton Trueblood; her step-children, Todd (Debbie) Newell and Lisa (Larry) Stewart; and 10 step-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Ruby Hess; her husband, Floyd Newell; her step-son, Charles Newell; her grandson, R.J. Brown; her great-granddaughter, Katelyn Newell; and her step-granddaughter, Robin Moody.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. (CDT) on Friday, May 29th, at Oak Grove Cemetery (rural Palestine, IL), with Pastor Mark Bailey officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to her memorial fund, with checks made payable to "Goodwine Funeral Homes." Memorials may also be made online at https://www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/payments.