I.B. McNew Sr.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Ivan Benton "I.B." McNew Sr., 92, formerly of Morehouse and a resident of the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, died at 3 a.m. Nov. 7, 2008, at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Born Aug. 7, 1916, in Naylor, to the late William Benton and Rohenia Bass McNew, he moved from St. Louis to Morehouse in 1936. He served in the 23rd Calvary of the U.S. Army during World War II as a rifleman sharpshooter. He fought in the battles of the Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe and was awarded three bronze stars for those campaigns.

He was a mechanic and owned and operated McNew's Garage in Morehouse for 32 years. He later owned McNew's Used Auto Sales in Sikeston for 10 years. He was a member of the Morehouse General Baptist Church and also served as mayor of Morehouse for 12 years. He was a past member and office holder of the Kiwanis Club of Morehosue and a member of the Sikeston Eagles Club for several years.

On May 6, 1935, in Neelyville, he married Lydia M. Merriman. She preceded him in death on Dec. 17, 1975. On July 1, 1990, in Charleston, he married Doris Pemberton and she preceded him in death on Aug. 27, 1998.

He was also preceded in death by one son, I.B. McNew Jr.; a son-in-law, Linzle Parker; a sister, Mary Tucker; and three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He is survived by: three daughters and a son-in-law, Shirley and Jim Tate of Dexter, Audrey King of Morehouse and Phyllis Parker of Sikeston; one brother and sister-in-law, Herman and Zelma McNew of Sikeston; a daughter-in-law, Liz McNew of Morehouse; and a sister-in-law, Opal Merriman of Sikeston. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Sunday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel, where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday. His nephew, the Rev. James Littles of Piedmont, will officiate.

Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery with full military rites provided by the Missouri Military Funeral Honor Guard Unit.

Pallbearers will be: Allen King, Kevin Tate, Keith Tate, Jim Parker, Corey McNew and Jamie Parker.

Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Wyrick and Bob McReynolds.

Paid obituary