Newton Ellis

August 2, 1934 – September 5, 2019

Newton Cass Ellis, 85, of Bryan, TX passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2019. A Celebration of Life will be held 10 am Saturday, October 26th at the Aggie Field of Honor Chapel with Pastor Tim Owens officiating. Arrangements are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers, Bryan-College Station.

Newton was born August 2, 1935 in Paris, Texas to Woodrow and Evelyn Ellis. Newton is preceded in death by his only sibling, Donald Eugene Ellis.

Newton graduated from Texas City High School. While Newton was a student at Texas City High School, he lettered in baseball. After graduation, he entered Texas Agricultural & Mechanical College. At Texas A&M, Newton was in the Corps of Cadets where, in his senior year, he was selected to be second in command of the Corp of Cadets. After a calling from God, Newton transferred to Baylor University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956.

The summer before entering Baylor University as a student, Newton returned to Texas City, Texas to marry the love of his life, Mary Kettrick, on July 16, 1954.
Newton received an MA in Experimental Psychology in 1962 and a PhD in 1964 from Texas Christian University. In 1969, Newton and his family moved to Bryan, Texas where Newton became an Assistant Professor in Industrial Engineering Department at Texas A&M University. During his tenure, Newton served as Department Head of Industrial Engineering, Division Head of the Industrial and Bio-Engineering Research Division, Division Head of the Human Factors and Systems Engineering Division, Texas Transportation Institute, and the Texas Engineering Experiment Station. In 1991, Newton was awarded the University Level Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Former Students. This award recognizes outstanding members of Texas A&M’s faculty and staff for their commitment, performance and positive impact on Aggie students, Texas citizens and the world around them. In 2000, Newton retired from Texas A&M University after tenure of 32 years. At retirement, Newton was awarded Emeritus status, an honor conferred by Texas A&M University to show respect for his distinguished career.

Newton taught the First Baptist Bryan Business Men’s Bible Class for 3 years. In 2017, Newton and his wife Mary became members of Iola Missionary Baptist Church Iola, Texas.

Newton is survived by his beloved wife, Mary, and their two children, Dr. Lori L. Ellis, PhD of Celina, Texas, Dr. Jon Ellis, MD and his wife, Carole of Waco, Texas, and his two grandchildren, Tyler and Hannah Ellis.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials will be graciously accepted for Iola Missionary Baptist Church Missions Fund, PO 220, Iola, Texas 77861.

Express condolences at CallawayJones.com

Condolences

  1. Newton was the department head who welcomed me back to academia so many years ago. He was always supportive and inspiring. If there was anyone who ever lived the Rudyard Kipling challenge “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you” it was Newton. We will miss his kind, considered, insightful companionship and leadership. I am saddened to hear of his passing and wanted to share my deepest condolence.

    Richard J. Mayer

  2. Dr. Ellis was a great gift to those of us who knew him at Watercrest, and to many Aggies through the years. We will miss him very much.

  3. A true leader and pioneer in his field has fallen. I owe my career at TAMU to the many ways he facilitated my research, encouraged my studies, and got me on the faculty. I learned so much from Newton about how to be a manager and how to pursue opportunities. The last time I saw him he was still interested in our human factors field and the department of Industrial Engineering which he led so ably. For more than 50 years I felt he was a friend. My condolences to Mary, Jon and Laurie. I will never forget all he did for me. May he rest in peace and perpetual light shine upon him.

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