Mary (Ralston) Newport was born November 16, 1927 in St. Joseph Hospital in Belvidere to Walter J. and Minnie (Erickson) Ralston of northern Boone County.

She attended Livingston, a one room school, and later caledonia grade school. She graduated from Belvidere High School in 1945. She was a graduate of NIU and taught 3 years in the last of the Boone County one room schools. She later became a substitute teacher for several years.

In 1950 she married Robert Newport and moved to the Belvidere area. She was a past member of the Boone County Farm bureau Women's committee, and the Belvidere women's club.

She was also a member of the Boone County Extension and the Historical Society where she served as a Thursday afternoon volunteer for 35 years.

She is predeceased by her parents, husband Robert, daughter Laura in 1973, and only sister Anna E. Ralston.

Survived by daughter, Claudia Newport of Springfield OH., son, Mark (Jan) Newport of Ellison Bay WI, granddaughters, Christina (Darren) Newport-Deblack of Oconomowoc WI, Erika Shelton of Denver CO. grandson, Ethan (Colleen) of Frederick MD., great grandsons, Caden Erickson, Maximus, Jase and Andrew Deblack, great granddaughters, Emerson and Amelia Shelton of MD., step granddaughter, Melissa (Kenneth) Chipman, of Centerville OH. and the extended Newport family.

Private gathering at Livingston Cemetery at a later date.

Because of Mary's concern for the environment and animal welfare, any memorials to your choice for those issues.