Kathleen (Wright) Newling

Kathleen "Kitty" Marie Wright Newling, 77 of Gulfport, FL, formally of St. Petersburg, FL, passed away

peacefully on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Kitty was born September 1, 1942 in Ft. Benning, Ga.

She is predeceased by her parents Elmer and Carolyn Wright of St. Petersburg, FL and her late husband

Roger William Newling of Salisbury, NC. Kitty had 3 sons and a daughter, Bobby Lee Newling 56 of

Mooresville, NC, Jimmy Dean Newling 53 of Harrisburg, NC, Roger Wade Newling 50 of

Jacksonville Fl, and Shirlene Middleton 58, of Spring Hill, FL. Kitty loved her little sister Mary

Wright Warner of St Petersburg, FL, her nephew and nieces Paul Carelli of Atlantic Beach, FL, Amy Wright

Payne of St Petersburg, FL, and Laura Payne Domingo of Concord, NC. Kitty was a homemaker

and with her husband Roger they owned and operated  A-OK Auto Reconditioning for 26 years.

Kitty also loved working with her friends at the Salvation Army in St. Petersburg.  Kitty always

stayed busy raising her boys and most of the neighborhood kids running them to school, football,

baseball, swimming lessons, BMX races, hunting, Summer camp and wherever they needed to go.

Kitty loved having friends and family over for parties or dinner and usually fed anyone that came in

the door. Kitty's favorite time of year was Christmas. With Elvis playing in the background,

cookies and eggnog, her poodle Sparky on her lap. She would unwrap the presents and put the

bows in her hair. She also loved leaving the Christmas lights up, sometimes all year long, Yes that

was our happy home. Kitty also knew how to relax, she could float on her back in the pool for hours,

LOL. Never could learn how to do that. We spent many nights on the front porch swing just talking and

relaxing with friends and family. That was her favorite place to be... Kitty was also a big supporter of

our family's biggest hobby racing cars. She would collect anything she could find and save all the

newspaper story's and racing magazines. She loved watching us work on the race cars and would

write down everything the guys said while working with out us knowing and then read it back to

us later. It was so much fun. So many great memories. Mom was a gentle soul that loved everyone

and everyone loved "KITTY " Rest in Peace Momma.