Newell Thomas Jett, Jr., 80 years old, of Kearney, peacefully passed away at home on Sunday, January 30, 2022, with his loving wife, Martha, by his side. He was born on Thursday, March 6, 1941 in his Grandmother’s home in Cushing, Oklahoma as the eldest son of the late Newell Jett, Sr. and late Margie Krebs (née Kirchmeyer). His first hours of life were a struggle, but the love and care of family surrounded him and encouraged him to choose life. And what a life he lived! His youth was filled with fun and adventure including hot rod cars and motorcycles, water skiing and swing dancing to all those great 50’s songs. After graduating high school and attended a semester of college, Newell served in the US Air Force from 1961 to 1965 loading nuclear weapons on the B52 bomber. After discharge he met and married the love of his life, Martha Lovell. They enjoyed 56 years together grounded by their shared faith in a loving God and filled with new adventures, including raising two children, Terry Dwain and Sheri Lynn. Newell chose to continue his connection to airplanes by attending the Spartan School of Aeronautics. He graduated with the revered A & P certification which led him to a 34 year career at the TWA Overhaul Base in Kansas City, MO as Mechanic and Inspector. Many beautiful friendships formed with coworkers that shared a love of lake fishing. Newell always had a project in the works, but the biggest project of his lifetime was the construction of a lake home on Table Rock Lake he built from the ground up with help from family and friends beginning in 1978. The lake home was not only a gathering place for summer fun each year, including fishing of course, but it also became Newell and Martha’s retirement dream-come-true for 15 years. Their retirement was also filled with many adventures and travel destinations seen from the seat of a baby blue Honda Goldwing motorcycle. Nearly all of the lower 48 states caught a glimpse of the blue streak before it was passed over to his son, Terry. As Newell’s life entered its final season, in 2016 they moved from Table Rock to Kearney, MO near daughter Sheri and family, and old friends. He fought a long and arduous battle against heart failure, but he did it with grace and patience. Newell was special from the day he entered this world. He touched countless lives in special ways over the years, and now he has left us all with an unforgettable legacy. Newell is survived by his wife, Martha Jett, two children: Terry (Sherri) Jett, Sheri (Randy) Millar, two grandchildren: Nathan Jett, JT Millar, two siblings: Ronald (Trudy) Jett, Margel (late Byron) Pugh, and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Friday, Feb 4 from 11:00 to 12:00 PM at First Christian Church Kearney, 2151 S Jefferson St, Kearney, MO. Funeral service will follow visitation at Noon. Interment will follow the funeral at Fairview Cemetery in Kearney. Flowers are welcome, or in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VFW.