Newt Secrest

SERVICES: 4:30 PM Friday, Nov. 3, 2006, at the First Presbyterian Church with Nancy Ruff, CLP, officiating.BURIAL: Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.BIOGRAPHY: Mr. Secrest was born Oct. 12, 1921 in Hope, Arkansas and had been a resident of Pampa since 1950. He married Miriam "Mim" Schmidt on Jan. 1, 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mr. Secrest played semi-professional baseball for the Pampa Oilers in the late 1940's. After his baseball career, he continued to coach and mentor youth in the sport. He was a veteran of the U. S. Navy during World War II and was discharged as a seaman first class. He was a salesman for Wearever before starting his life insurance business in Pampa with Franklin Life Insurance Co. Later, he worked for Pioneer American Life Insurance, American General Life, and in the 1970's, he began working for AFLAC selling cancer insurance. He retired in 2002 as a regional manager for AFLAC. Mr. Secrest was a dedicated member of Optimist International, serving in every administrative capacity in the Pampa Optimist Club. He was especially involved in the Optimist baseball program, where he not only coached and umpired, but played a critical role in the founding of the club in the 1950's, including construction of the baseball fields and eventually the gymnasium. He received many commendations for his dedicated Optimist work. He was also very involved as past president of both the band and choir booster clubs for Pampa High School. He was a member of Top O' Texas Masonic Lodge #1381, Pampa Shrine Club, and Khiva Shrine Temple of Amarillo. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he served in all administrative positions.SURVIVORS: Wife: Miriam "Mim" Secrest of the home; 3 daughters: Renee Steele of Gladewater, Rebecca Secrest of Bethel, Maine, and Stephanie Hazlewood of Round Rock; a son: Richard Secrest of Salem, Oregon; 1 sister: Beden McCullough of Pampa; 5 granddaughters: Rachel White, Alison White, Catherine White, Christina Secrest, and Sherry Leighty; 2 grandsons, Geoffrey Hazlewood and Graham Hazlewood; 2 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jefferson Waldo and Ettie Cunningham Secrest, by 2 brothers, Earl and J. W., and by 2 sisters, Florence Thomas and Norine Turner.MEMORIALS: Pampa Optimist Club Scholarship Fund, 601 E. Craven, Pampa, TX 79065.SPECIAL NOTICE: The family will receive friends from 6:00-7:30 PM Thursday at the funeral home.