Carl E. Newlon passed quietly from this world on May 25, 2018 at the age of 91.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church in Clayton, New Mexico with Rev. Billy Rammage officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hass Funeral Directors, of Clayton. Please visit www.hassfuneralhome.com to view the online obituary and sign the guestbook.
Carl E. Newlon was born October 10, 1926, to Emmett and Mary Adeline Newlon in Texline, Texas. At age 14, against the wishes of his father, he left home to gain broader education at Clayton High School. To afford this independence, he stayed at the boarding house and worked at the Clayton bakery from 2:00 a.m. until time for school, then attended classes and returned to the bakery to work until early morning. This hard work ethic carried him through many jobs until graduation with honors in 1944. World War II found him at 18 in the U.S. Army 306 Combat Engineers, fighting in the Asian Pacific Theater. He faced combat and acted as a medic under horrendous conditions. At war’s closing, he managed Army hospitals and morgue services. As a skilled dental technician, he offered dental aid to thousands of exiting servicemen. Upon his return to Texas, his father fell ill, and he took over management of the family farm. This move sacrificed his chance to attend dental school. Carl was just home from the service and stepped into the Dust Bowl, a meeting place beneath the Luna Theater. He met Jeanne Temple and shortly fell in love with the 
dark haired beauty and they were married June 8, 1947. After a touring trip to Yellowstone National Park, they returned to his folk’s home in Texas to manage the farm while his father was mending. The newlyweds then moved to the Temple homestead in northern Sedan and took over the ranch operation so her mother could move to town. They soon began upgrading the property and starting a family. They raised five children, David, Sandra, Janice, Janet, and Kendall. Carl and Jeanne embarked on several successful business ventures. They operated the first fully automated Grade A dairy in Union County, selling milk to Borden for 26 years (1951-1977). Simultaneously, they ran a large caged poultry production, raised pork and bred registered polled Hereford and dairy cattle. During their marriage of 59 years, they ran two operations, one north of Sedan and one in the Plainview community south of Clayton, producing beef cattle and feed crops. A fine horseman, he had been on cattle drives since the age of eight. He raised Arabian crossbred horses and, approaching 80, rode and participated in roundup and branding. Even as a great grandfather he was one of the few active original landowners in Sedan. Carl represented Union County well through memberships in America Hereford, dairy and beef associations, and Arabian Horsemen Association. Carl held many elected positions in Sedan and Clayton organizations such as trustee for Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Farm Bureau, Soil Conservation and Forest Service and founding member of the Sedan Fire Department. He served as officer and member of the Sedan and Clayton School Boards. Many times Carl dropped his own work to render aid to a neighbor in need, working on broken equipment, lending parts and expertise. One marked example was offering his dairy facilities and labor to a neighbor whose dairy was flooded. For many years he was part of local harvest crews, sharing equipment. He often risked his own crop being last in the granary. Carl fostered many a young man’s growth into manhood while they worked on the Newlon Ranch. He gave time, shelter, money and advice on many occasions. In 2006, Carl lost his best girl, Jeanne and always missed her singing and calling “My Carl”. Most of his immediate family is gone. Our Dad always tried his best. He never knew a stranger and loved to tell stories. Many will remember him as a gentleman, friend, and as one said, “He was a cool guy.” He will be missed.
SURVIVORS:
3 DAUGHTERS: Sandra Faye Springmeyer of Sedan, New Mexico, Janet Coburn and her husband Roger of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Janice Rinker and her husband Gary of Clayton, New Mexico.
2 SONS: David Newlon and his wife Charlene of Texline, Texas and Kendall Newlon of Sedan, New Mexico.
1 SISTER: Nan Herber of Amarillo, Texas.
1 SISTER-IN-LAW: Mattie Newlon of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
7 GRANDCHILDREN: David Newlon and his wife Amy, Nathan Newlon and his wife Monica, Charla Willis and her husband Chris, Jason Rinker and his wife Melissa, Amanda Mann and her husband Bryan, Dane Rinker and his wife Tanji and Lorie Sprosty and her husband Kyle.
13 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: Abigail Newlon, Benjamin Newlon, Jordan Rinker, Daniel Rinker, Ryleigh Rinker, Ayse Mann, Sera Mann, Sebastian Mann, Kyron Rinker, Phoenix Rinker, Kayden Sprosty, Clara Willis and Anna Willis.
MEMORIALS: The family requests that memorials be made in Carl’s memory to the Charity of your choice.
