New

Jimmy New, 83, of Rockdale, died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at a hospital in Temple.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale and burial will follow at I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Visitation is set for 6 to

Visitation is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the funeral home.

Mr. New was born Jan. 8, 1937, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Henry Olin and Georgia Ann (Draper) New.

He lived in Fort Worth for a time before moving to Rockdale in 1968.

He married Reta Yuvon Watson on July 21, 1956, in Durant, Oklahoma.

Mr. New was a journeymen lineman with IBEW and was an active member of IBEW for 50 years. His work took him to many places throughout the U.S. He retired in 2001.

Mr. New enjoyed working, riding his tractor and being with his friends for coffee at McDonald’s. In his younger years, he enjoyed playing softball.

Mr. New was a member of the National Guard.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Reta New on Feb. 7, 2015; a daughter, Teresa Gayle New on March 8, 1990; a son, Joel New on March 12, 2012; and his parents.

Survivors are a daughter, Kimberly Shelton of Rockdale; a daughter-in-law, Vickie New of Rockdale; a brother-in-law, Barry Watson of Whitney; his grandchildren, Gregg Samford and wife Angel of Round Rock, Bobby Samford and wife Melissa of Katy, Jason New and wife Julie of Parker, Jeremy New and husband Dustin Dillard of Dallas; his great-grandchildren, Blaise Samford of Rockdale, Natalie New and Evan New, both of Parker; his step-great-grandchildren, Payden Patterson and Sean Patterson, both of Katy, Michael Navarro and wife Ashley, and Arely Navarro, all of Pharr, Ryleigh Bowker and Dalton Bowker, both of Round Rock; and a step-great-great-grandchild, Mason.