Velma Lawyer Newman was born March 13, 1912, the 10th of 11 children of Harry and Carrie (Hall) Lawyer, outside Liberty Center, IA into a very musical family. They spent many happy hours singing. Velma attended Liberty Center school and played piano for the Liberty Center Methodist Church from the age of 14 yrs until she met a     Raleigh salesman (Jess Newman) at 16 yrs and married him at 19 yrs. They lived in Chariton where Rosemary and Sandra were born and Jess operated two gas stations.

Velma and Jess had several businesses that they operated, a Gamble Store in Rockwell City, and the Hotel Warren in Indianola. They joined the Indianola Presbyterian Church in 1945. In 1954, Jess and Velma built a Dairy Queen in Chillicothe, MO, three years later they sold the Dairy Queen and moved back to Indianola where she and Jess built a beautiful mobile home park. After many years, they sold the mobile home park and bought a couple of duplex's then, Velma retired to crocheting, which she learned at the age of 8 yrs old. She crocheted hundreds of afghans, hats, scarves, baby clothes and lap robes for nursing home patients and even little squares for the shelter kitties cages.  She also made oil paintings, she painted a beautiful china set, and was a beautiful seamstress.

Velma and her sister Helen Lawyer Amsberry, Velma Snider and Maude Lester accompanied by Margaret Metcalf, sang as "The Harmonettes" all over for special occasions.

Velma was a kind and caring person to all and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Velma is survived by her daughters, Rosemary Hennessy and Sandra (Ken) Newell; grandchildren, Sue (Harold) Lande, Kathy (Denny) Jerome, Cindy (Allen) Henry, Traci VanderLinden, Todd (Ute) Newell, Eric Newell, and Laura (Tim) Davison;16 great-grandchildren and 27 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse; parents, Harry and Carrie; 7 siblings; and granddaughter, Carole Hennessy Anderson.