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Jacquelyn Simon Newman was born in San Antonio, Texas to Leonard Roper Simon and Irma Klaerner Simon on November 24, 1931. Mom was a “Faith baby” and much to her father’s chagrin, was born at home. Her father actually counted her fingers and toes, just to be sure. I always teased “Jackie-Baby”, as Vincent Price nick-named her, that she was born with all 21! Mom spent many summers with her beloved grandparents, Otto and Angele Klaerner, on their farm in Bracken, Texas. Mom told so many wonderful stories of these times and of all that she learned. When it was time to start school, her mother had to teach her English, as German had become her primary language. Mom always applied herself to her studies and went on to ‘skip’ the 8th grade. Mom went to George W. Brackenridge High School and became a forever proud member of the Brackenridge Purple Jackets. She kept so many of those friendships throughout her life. Mom was a member of the National Honor Society all four years of high school, was fluent in German and was a gifted pianist. Later, when our little family was abandoned, Mom put her broken heart on the shelf and began to pick up the broken pieces. Mom became the provider, but was first and foremost our mother. She was a fearless and faithful protector of her two little cubs. Mom built a home out of the remnants, a loving home – safe, secure and open to all. She fought all her battles in prayer and by following the leading of the Lord Jesus – and did He ever lead! Mom, now the sole provider of our family, took a job with Sears. She thought it would be good for brushing up on her typing and shorthand skills before moving on to something better. But Jesus has another plan for her. That temporary job blossomed into a 28 year career with Sears. Mom started in the secretarial pool, but soon advanced into Sales Promotion, then Advertising and retired as a Regional Personnel Director. Mom helped so many people and we grew up hearing so many accolades as to her skill, kindness and genuineness. Mom always gave the full credit to Jesus and girded her success by prayer. After retirement, Mom got ‘antsy’ and took a minimum wage job at the newly formed Sears Tele-catalog Center, a sub-contracted and privately held operation, training people to take and process merchandise orders. Yet again, Jesus had another plan for Mom. The owner ‘discovered’ mom working at her new job, reviewed he resume, and asked, “Jackie, what are you doing here?” Within several months, the owners turned the entire operation over to mom and used their corporate attorneys to help her create her own corporation. The prior owners brought her to Atlanta where they got her up to speed on corporate law, accounting mandates and a host of other vital subjects. Well, Mom was off to the races again and was wildly successful in this endeavor. She always said, “Only Jesus could do such a thing”. Mom finally retired and was, as always, a fully devoted Mother, Grandmother and Great grandmother. When horrible circumstances reared their ugly heads, Mom stood with us and led the charge in prayer – Jesus NEVER Fails. Mom once said that “the worst part of getting old is that all of your friends are gone”. She out-lived so many of her dear friends. Mom is survived by her two sons, Jerald Newman Jr. (Cyndie) and Gary Newman (Lydia). Mom is further survived by her granddaughters, Bevin Henges (Nathan) and Eden Newman, and great granddaughters Coral Henges and Lilly Henges Of all the selfless and wonderful things that my mother did for us, I thank her most for teaching me about Jesus. Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North, 3401 Cherry Ridge Dr., San Antonio, TX 78230 Mom will be laid to rest in the Bracken Community Cemetery, 20762 FM 2252, Garden Ridge, TX, near her Beloved Mother and Grandparents on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 11:30 A.M.

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Jacquelyn Simon Newman

November 24, 1931 - May 13, 2024