Mary Newton

Mary A. Newton
Aug. 1, 1923 – Sept 4, 2014

This afternoon our beloved mom, sister, grandmother and great grandmother, Mary Alice Hamilton Newton, was called home for a happy reunion with loved ones on the other side. Since her passing, colors seem more muted, life’s melody subdued, a bright light has gone out of our lives.

Born Aug. 1, 1923, Mary Alice, Mom, Grandma “NeNu” was a vivacious youngster who could never stand still in classic early 1940’s home movies when everyone else was frozen in formality.

Her wonderful early years became a reservoir of happy memories and delights, which she tucked away for fond future recollections. Throughout her life she was full of that same vitality and always happiest when with her 5 children, 18 grandchildren, and 26 (soon to be 28) great grandchildren…..or when shopping for them at the dollar store.

Raised by loving parents James Exile and Lucinda Ashton Hamilton in their beloved Lincoln Ward and Granite Stake, Mary Alice always enjoyed music: frequently accompanying other performers for local performances including several concerts during WWII at Camp Williams, taught neighborhood piano students till she was 90, ward organist for over 30 years and was proud to have played a hymn on the Tabernacle organ at Temple Square.

An excellent student with beautiful handwriting, she was a proud South High Cub, later degrees at U. of U. (B.A.) and Utah State (M.A.). She had a long career of 37 years teaching 1st graders at several Salt Lake City elementary schools.

Mom loved making and distributing booklets of family histories, raising tomatoes in her garden, and baking batches of rolls, cookies or other treats always available for snitching by young and old alike. Her happiness was homespun. Mom was the touchstone of the family. She kept her family together as a single mom through hard work, self-sacrifice and dedication to her faith and testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Priceless memories are her legacy, and include a love of reading and music, terrific family parties, and rather fun but sometimes unorthodox, original poetry.

She is survived by her brother Jay (Heloyce) Hamilton, her sister Ruth (John, deceased) Walton; sons Jack (Kathy) Newton, James (Helen) Newton, David Newton; daughters Laura Stayner and Ruth (Dave) Dayhuff; grandchildren: Brooke (Erik) Storheim, Kelley (Scott) Bridge, Whitney (Jeff) Dunn, Lindsay Newton; J. L. (Janalynne) Stayner, K. C. (Hannah) Stayner, Allison (Ryan) Clark, Alex (Jenn) Stayner; Ben (Annie) Newton, Zach Newton (deceased) Jimmy (Julie) Newton, Ann (Keith) Warner, Natalie Lobato, David (Jamie) Newton; Kaity Dayhuff, Scott Dayhuff, Eric Dayhuff, and James Dayhuff and 26 (soon to be 28) grandchildren.

Grandma “NeNu” is finally freed from years of hard work, financial pressures, and bodily pain…..now to be reunited with treasured loved ones who have gone before. Free to jump and to run……to dance and to float……to sail…..to fly. We could have told you Mary…..”this world was never made for one as beautiful as you”.

Viewing will be held Monday, Sept. 8th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Russon Brothers Mortuary, 255 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, Utah. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 9th at the Mountain View 1st Ward Chapel, 1400 South 1900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah with a viewing to be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Online Guestbook available at www.russonmortuary.com In lieu of flowers, donations to the Moran Eye Center, 65 Medical Dr., SLC, UT, are encouraged.