Mary Alice Newton

Mary Alice Chester Newton, born August 16th, 1949, passed away peacefully on January 8th, 2021, in her home, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. A native of University Park, TX, Mary graduated from Highland Park High School in 1967. She continued her education at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, where she received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1971. Mary was an early entrant into the field of computer programming with a career as a systems analyst and programmer, initially for Brown & Root in Houston, TX, and later for Frito Lay in Frisco, TX. Above all else, Mary was passionate about her family. In their spare time, she and her family took countless trips across the country and abroad, many of which were taken to connect with friends and relatives and to attend vibrant family reunions. Mary was actively engaged with music, pursuing piano and ukulele in her spare time and being a longtime member of several choral ensembles for most of her life, where she shared her beautiful voice. Mary was also an avid reader who was involved with several close-knit book clubs, volunteered at local libraries, and even obtained a master’s degree in library sciences after retiring from Frito Lay. After her husband, Oren, retired, she and her family devoted their time to world travel, caring for her mother, and spending time at their home in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew Emerson Chester and Rosylene Anderson Chester. She is survived by her husband, Oren Newton, and son, David Newton; step-son, Brian Newton, and his children, Ashton and Piper Newton; sister, Caroline Chester and her husband, John McDonald; sister, Julia Chandler; brother, Charles Chester; foster sister, Cristina Laroco; and nine nieces and nephews. Mary also leaves behind countless members of her large and vibrant extended family and an expansive network of invaluable lifelong friends, including those from her long-standing book club, Frito Lay, Trinity University, Highland Park Schools, and countless others with whom she connected through her travels, career, and neighborhood. Mary will be remembered for her genuine kindness, sharp wit, caring spirit, compassion for all people, boundless energy, and enthusiasm for life.

Because of the restrictions involved with COVID-19, there will be no memorial service. After it is safe for larger groups to gather, friends and family will come together to celebrate Mary’s life at her family home. In lieu of flowers, her family wishes that donations in her honor be made to ChildFund International (childfund.org).