Newman W. McNatt

Newman W. McNatt passed away at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital at the age of 95 of natural causes on August 5, 2024. Such a kind man has passed on to be with his family, friends and savior that have passed on before him. He outlived most of his family and friends. 

Newman “Wade” McNatt worked for Michigan Carton Company for approximately 31 years (retired December 1, 1976). He also worked for the Gas Company, as a meter reader and the Top Hat Restaurant in downtown Battle Creek as a dishwasher. He was very well known for singing country songs and playing the guitar; not only at home, but at several places including the Grizzly Bar and Gilkey Lake Tavern with Dorrence Hoffman in Hastings and friends that lived in Bellevue, MI. 

He was formerly married to Kathleen Malik McNatt Howard, whom he had three children with, Michael W. McNatt, Martha “Kay” Bruce and Brenda Taft. He worked very hard trying to provide for his family, working 7 days a week without vacations to make his family’s life better than his growing up. He was born in Tishomingo, Mississippi to Ora Carrie McClung McNatt and Newman Rector “Rex” McNatt on November 27, 1928. Newman could mesmerize you by telling you so many stories about his childhood. You could listen to him for hours. 

He had a few things you could say about him; he liked his picture taken most nearly every time you visited him (for prosperity reasons!!). He always called his daughter Kay “Katydid” as a nickname and she called him “daddy doodle” as he got older. He said he loved her calling him that. He had an ongoing joke with his daughter Brenda being they both enjoyed playing pool. So whenever they got a chance to shoot together he told her if she lost she had to do the dishes. Every time Brenda would be ready to shoot he would say “don’t miss.” He also taught his son Michael how to play the guitar. 

Newman finished 6th grade in Tishomingo, MS. His hobbies were wood working (making gifts, birdhouses and canes), gardening, playing guitar and singing country and gospel music. When he sang a lot of people said he sounded like George Jones; as he sang many of his songs. He also raised homing pigeons and had baby goats as the kids were growing up. He had 2 special dogs, Shorty and Cocoa. When Kay asked him what he wanted done when he passed someday down the road he said as he smiled, “Surprise me!” This showed part of his personality. 

His son Mike would call him every Saturday night to remind him when his Blue Grass program would be on. Newman also liked gospel songs; one he played over and over was “I saw the Master This Morning” by Bill Harrel & the Virginians. 

Newman is survived by his three children, Mike McNatt, Martha “Kay” Bruce and Brenda Taft; 6 grandchildren, Tammie (Jeff) Drake, Michelle McNatt, Kimberly McNatt, Shannon (Mike) Farkas, Troy (Brittany) Moser and Faith Ingraham; 10 great-grandchildren, Jonah Drake, Owen Drake, Bailey Drake, Cameron Farkas, Carson Farkas, Kayla (Luke) Rohrig, Hayley Ingraham, Mackenzy Ingraham, Taylor Moser and Austin Ward; four great great-grandchildren; a sister, Hilda (Bob) Torres and a special Buddy, Martin Heppler and his family. 

Newman was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Wayne McNatt; a sister, Augustine Dean and a granddaughter, Kori-Lee Moser. 

A memorial service to celebrate Newman’s life will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Rhema Word Outreach Center, 21342 Capital Ave. NE, Battle Creek 49017, officiated by Pastor Cheryl Jones. There will be a luncheon immediately following. Arrangements by the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.