TAMMS, Ill. -- Ralph "Newly" Newell, 58, of Tamms died suddenly Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003, at his home.

He was born Dec. 11, 1944, in Cairo, Ill., son of Henry Lee and Virtie May Warren Newell. He married Brenda Hazelwood.

Newell retired as a foreman with Illinois Department of Transportation, where he worked 32 years. He was a member of Wickliffe Gospel Tabernacle Church in Wickliffe, Ky., Missionary Navajo Indians, and Teamsters Union.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Shelly Newell and Gina Hileman of Villa Ridge, Ill.; three sons, Jeff Byram of Paducah, Ky., Burt and Ben Byram of Sebastopol, Miss.; his mother, Virtie Abercrombie of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Mary Tinsley of Cape Girardeau; and four grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his father and a sister.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wickliffe Gospel Tabernacle Church. Burial will be in Bethlehem Cemetery near Wickliffe.

Jones Funeral Home at Tamms is in charge of arrangements.