Mary Ann Newport was born to the late Rex and Helen Sharp, in Knoxville, Tennessee, on October 27, 1939. She passed away on January 13, 2022, at the age of 82 after a battle with pneumonia. She was surrounded by loved ones.

She graduated from Baroness-Erlanger School of Nursing (1960). Then went on to graduate from Pepperdine University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and went on to get her master’s degree in nursing at Cal State, Los Angeles. She worked as a professor of nursing at Mira Costa College, where she taught for 35 years. She was dedicated to her profession and loved teaching students.

Mary Ann Newport

Mary Ann was blessed with a lovely family. She married her best friend, James Newport, on July 27, 1961, in Knoxville, Tennessee. They were married for over 40 years. Together with Jim, she raised three children – Jay, Rex and Rachel. She was an awesome mom to her fur babies – Joey Rebel and Johnny Rotten. Mary Ann was also kind and generous to the many additional family members she adopted, as well as to the friends she loved and just about anyone she met.

Mary Ann dabbled in local politics, sitting on the San Marcos Water Board for 16 years. She also volunteered at local organizations and especially loved working with teenagers at the Assistance League of Temecula. In her spare time, she loved to read, listen to music and go to the theater.

Mary Ann is survived by her son Rex Newport and daughter Rachel Newport, their spouses Angelina Newport and Karl Voss as well as her grandchildren Tanner Newport, Morgan Newport, Maddie Newport, Hope Brewer, Michael Brewer and Andrew Brewer. She is also survived by her sister, Betty Aytes, and her family. She is preceded in death by her husband, James Newport, and son Jay Newport.

A celebration of life will be held in Temecula, California in late March 2022. She will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., later this year.