Maury Thomas Newman

“The Leader of the Band”
Maury Thomas Newman joined his sweetheart, Bonnie, when he passed away on Monday, October 22, 2018.
A brilliant musician and educator, Maury served in the public school system for over 40 years, both in Bakersfield, California and Salt Lake City, Utah. He taught band and orchestra at Olympus High School for most of his career and then became an academic counselor at Eisenhower Junior High and Olympus Junior High. He was known by students and fellow teachers as a gifted instructor, kind and caring mentor, and a fun-loving example to all.
Maury was born in Riverton, Utah on September 3, 1931, the oldest son of a railroad engineer at Kennecott Copper. Growing up around mining and gardening, he developed a strong work ethic at an early age. This was especially evident in his music studies, as he practiced his clarinet many long hours, often in an unheated wash house. His hard work paid off as he excelled at Jordan High School and later at the University of Utah, where he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Education.
It was as the first clarinetist in the University’s marching band that he met a raven-haired beauty, Bonnie Louise Ryan, who became his wife on March 7, 1953.  The newlyweds moved to Bakersfield, California where they both took up teaching positions. The couple and their children were sealed as an eternal family in the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1957.
An original “Music Man,” Maury could play any woodwind instrument and supplemented his income for a number of years playing in jazz bands.  He later became the conductor of the Promised Valley Playhouse Orchestra, the Granite Youth Symphony, and the Riverton Jazz Band. His Olympus High School Jazz Band won 2nd Place in the nation-wide high school jazz band competition in 1974.
He had a deep conviction to his country and to his church.  He served as a corporal in the Army Reserves after the Korean War. In the Church, he served in two bishoprics, an Elders Quorum Presidency and as a High Priest Group Leader.  He was a member and conductor of the Holladay 24th Ward and Holladay North Stake choirs for four decades.
Maury was known for the masterpiece of a garden that he raised each year. When no one could find him, the first place to look was puttering around with his green thumb in the expertly-measured rows of corn, tomatoes, peas and beets, which he freely supplied to the neighborhood.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 2015, and is survived by his three children, Scott Newman (Pam), Kirk Newman (Julie), and Nancy Ayers (Andrew), 22 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, his brother Elmer (Maryann), and sister Moonyeen Hettrick (Clyde). A viewing will be held at the Memorial Holladay-Cottonwood Mortuary 4670 S Highland Drive on Friday, October 26, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 PM. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 27, 2018 in the Holladay 24th Ward, 4395 Albright Drive, with a viewing beforehand between 9:30 and 10:45 AM. Interment at Riverton City Cemetery.
Service Information
Viewing October 26, 2018 at 6:00-8:00 PM
Memorial Holladay~Cottonwood Mortuary 4670 South Highland Drive, Holladay, Utah





Viewing October 27, 2018 at 9:30-10:45 AM
Holladay 24th Ward, 4395 Albright Drive, Holladay, Utah





Funeral Service
October 27, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Holladay 24th Ward, 4395 Albright Drive, Holladay, Utah