Carol Marie Newman, the daughter of Roy and Mary (Swanson) Bates, was born on July 25, 1921 in Tenville, Iowa. She passed away on December 11, 2015 at the Elm Heights Care Center in Shenandoah, Iowa. She was 94 years old.

Carol grew up in the Tenville-Villisca, Iowa area on a farm and then moved to Shenandoah with her family where she graduated from Shenandoah High School and attended Western Normal College in Shenandoah, Iowa. After graduating she taught in a one-room country school near Norwich, Iowa.

Carol and Thomas H. Newman were married on June 26, 1942 at Tarkio, Missouri. They first settled on a farm near Villisca and then moved to a farm near Shenandoah, Iowa to raise their family. Carol had a large garden from which she froze and canned many vegetables. She especially loved her rose bed and flowers. She also raised chickens and sold eggs.

Carol worked for Henry Fields Seed and Nursery Company for a few years after she and her family moved in to Shenandoah from the farm.

Carol was an active member of many organizations throughout her life. While on the farm east of Shenandoah, she was active in the Country Guild, an organization for farm-women. She was an active member of the Shenandoah United Methodist Church, a life member of the United Methodist Women and taught Sunday School. Carol was a 4-H leader during her children's 4-H years. As an American Legion Auxiliary life member she held many offices - local, district, state, and regional and enjoyed attending meetings and conventions. Perhaps stemming from her father's service in the WWI American Expeditionary Force in France, and husband Thomas' US Navy service WWII, she chaired many "Poppies" programs and other programs. She volunteered at the American Red Cross Bloodmobile and the County Election Polls.

Carol and Thomas enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. with Neihart Tours. Her true love was her family, relishing dinners, seasonal gatherings, especially when her children and grandchildren visited.

Carol loved to join her many friends as often as possible in senior center events, celebrations and exercise classes. She enjoyed participating in pitch, bingo, dominos and tile rummy games.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Roy C. Bates and Mary Swanson Bates; her husband of 71 years, Thomas H. Newman; sisters, Lois Bates and Marilyn Bates; twin baby brothers; and son, Thomas Leroy Newman.

She is survived by her children, Paula Duncan and husband William of Sandy, Utah, Marilyn Offenbacker and husband Donald of Shenandoah, Iowa, Larry Newman and wife Nancy of Bozeman, Montana; daughter-in-law, Janet Newman, wife of the late Thomas L. Newman of Omaha, Nebraska; nine grandchildren, Carol Cox and husband Mike of Farragut, Iowa, Tim Ardrey of Sandy, Utah, Sandra Peavey and her husband Brian of Searsboro, Iowa, Anthony Offenbacker of Clarinda, Iowa, Terri Sederburg of Shenandoah, Iowa, Brian Newman and wife Susanne of Clive, Iowa, Brent Newman and his wife Michaela of Omaha, Nebraska, Chris Newman and wife Kristine of Tucson, Arizona and Kevin Newman and wife Andrea of Providence, Rhode Island; 20 great-grandchildren, Lindsey, Lacey, Thomas, Tylor, Colton, Dalton, Hannah, Jacob, Andrew, Eric, Tristan, Ethan, Kathryn, Collin, Dallas, Sierra, Gage, Devin, Bella, and Brianna; numerous nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church of Shenandoah or the Shenandoah American Legion Auxiliary Unit 88.

Burial will be held at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah, Iowa.