Obituary

ABERNATHY- Services for Kathryn (Jones) Newton, 80, of Abernathy, Texas, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, August 17, 2012, at the Church of Christ with Branden Denton and Clifton Newton officiating. Burial will follow in the Abernathy Cemetery under the direction of Abell Funeral Home and Flower Shop of Abernathy, Texas. The family will receive friends at Abell Funeral Home on Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Mrs. Newton died Tuesday, August 14, 2012, in Lubbock, Texas. She was born October 14, 1931 in Abernathy, Texas. Her family moved to County Line, Texas when she was two and she attended the first three years of school there. She graduated from Abernathy High School in 1948 as Class Salutatorian. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Abilene Christian College and her Masters in Physiology from the University of Texas. After graduating she moved to Houston, Texas where she taught general science at Houston Christian School. She returned to Lubbock and taught at Lubbock Christian High School prior to returning to Abernathy in 1967, where she taught at Abernathy High School for 30 years teaching physical science, chemistry, physics and advanced science, retiring in 1997. She married Doyce Newton on October 23, 1955 in Anton, Texas. She was the Girl Scout Troop leader for many years in Abernathy. In 1991 she was awarded the High School Chemistry Teacher of the Year by the South Plains American Chemistry Society. In the 1980s, one of her students honored her by dedicating his Doctoral Dissertation to her. In 1999, the Abernathy ISD the new science wing of the high school was dedicated in her honor. Her greatest joy in her teaching career was taking students to UIL Science events, where several of them went on to win at the State Science Levels.

She was preceded by a sister, Dovie Barron, in 1992. She is survived by her husband, Doyce Newton of Abernathy, Texas; two daughters, Lyntha Hill and husband John of Abernathy and Kanice Newton of Lubbock, Texas; and five grandchildren, Meghan, Wesley and Jase Hill and Jeslin and Alex Newton.

The family would like to express special thanks to Velda Moses, caregiver, special friend and member of the family for several years; to the Biomedical Clinic, who added many extra years and quality to her life; Bettie Hardin, who sent weekly encouragement cards and was a personal family friend for many years. The Newton family also would like to commend the UMC Staff for their kind and compassionate care that was given to Kathryn and all of the family. Memorials may be sent to the Children's Home of Lubbock, P. O. Box 2824, Lubbock, TX 79408 or to the Abernathy ISD, Scholarship Fund, 1202 2nd Street, Abernathy, TX 79311.