Michael Garry Newell

Michael “Mike” Garry Newell passed away on March 11, 2026, in Baylor Scott & White Centennial Hospital, Frisco, Texas, at the age of 75. Born on January 22, 1951, in Manchester, Connecticut, to Leland Louie Newell and Erika Liane Lieshoff, he was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Linda Carol Martin Newell, his beloved sister Deborah “Debi” Newell Wist and her husband Michael “Brick” Brickwedde, nephew Michael Palomba, cousin Robert “Bob” Newell, and cousin Dorothy “Dottie” Newell Ness and her husband Rick Ness.

Mike graduated from Lake Worth High School in Lake Worth, Florida. He earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, an M.S. in Educational Media and Technology from East Texas State University in Commerce, and a diploma in the Master’s Course in Microcomputers and Microprocessors from NRI Correspondence School, along with additional courses and certificates related to his work in the insurance industry.

From his earliest years, music was a constant and joyful presence in Mike’s life. His parents’ love of all genres deeply influenced him, and he taught himself guitar, played in a rock band that performed paid gigs during high school, and served as drum major for Lake Worth High School. Though he initially pursued a music degree with dreams of orchestrating and arranging, he developed a remarkable ability to notate music by ear. At Ambassador College he blended his passion for music with his faith, playing, singing, and recording with a talented group of musicians, memories he cherished throughout his life. He also toured as a singer with a music ensemble for Garner Ted Armstrong ministry events. Later, with his degree from East Texas State University, he worked as an audio-visual technician at Texas Woman’s University’s Presbyterian Dallas campus before building a career in corporate insurance as a claims adjuster, administrative assistant to a life agent, and advertising media coordinator. No matter where he worshipped, Mike remained active in music ministry and often supported audio-visual needs and productions. One of his most memorable contributions was emceeing a church talent show with ventriloquism and puppets. Though he played many instruments, the bass guitar remained his favorite.

Mike enjoyed following professional baseball, reading comic strips and contributing to the Comics Curmudgeon blog, solving crossword puzzles, and reading action and adventure novels. As a boy he played Little League, drew comics with his best friend Jay, and read to his little sister. As a teenager he thrived in the Civil Air Patrol, advancing to the rank of captain.