Julia Ann Coleman Mcnew

Julia Ann Coleman McNew of Waco, passed away Friday, April 8, 2016. Services will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 6:00– 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Julia was born in Waco, Texas, on January 20, 1943, to Jack Burrell Coleman and Virginia Phillips Coleman Baumhardt. She was raised by her mother and step-father, Omer Joseph Baumhardt. She graduated from University High School in Waco in the Class of 1961. She attended North Texas State University and Baylor University. She married Alton Lee McNew on July 3, 1963, in Waco. Julia enjoyed the 12 years she was able to stay at home with her children and be a homemaker. She then worked at First National Bank of Waco and finished her career with 29 years of service with Waco ISD. Her greatest achievement and the thing she was most proud of, as any of her friends could attest, was her family. When asked as she was growing up, what she wanted to be, she would always reply, “I want to be a stay at home mom and raise a family.” She was an overachiever and not only raised her three sons, but was considered a Mom to many of her sons’ friends. Everyone knew where to find a warm meal, a domino game, or a glass of iced tea (which she was famous for). As her boys grew up and all had families of their own, she became “Nana” and thoroughly enjoyed, loved, and cared for her grandchildren and watching them compete in the sports they love. She was a proud supporter of Robinson Rocket Athletics, going so far as naming her dog Rocket. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday night games eventually included many hours in the back seat of a car for Saturday road trips to SFA and SMU football games. Sunday meals, football on TV, and celebrating the previous week’s Robinson Rockets, Lumberjack, and Mustang victories became a weekly tradition. She had a kind heart and a caring soul. She could cure any hunger and heal any wound. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alton McNew, of 25 years; her daughter, Lee Ann; and brother-in-law, Granville Swope, III. She is survived by her sons, Greg McNew and wife, Lisa, of Whitney, Jeff McNew and wife, Cheryl, of Robinson, and Ross McNew and wife, Tammy, of Robinson; a sister, Virginia Swope of La Canada, California; and seven grandchildren, Andy, Matt, Erin, Mallory, Cole, Kim and Kennon McNew. Pallbearers will be Trey Kolinek, Jonathan Hoekstra, Mark Mashek, Chad Watson, Steve Soto, Alan Carrizales, Windle Eddy and Glenn Lankford. Honorary pallbearers will be Granville Swope IV, Valerie Anderson and her seven grandchildren. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.