SUTTON - Evelyn Elizabeth Newton, 93, departed this life on a new journey from Androscogg Hospice House in Auburn, Maine. Her loving husband, and Captain of her life, John H Newton, predeceased her on November 23rd 1983 after 42 years of marriage.
Evelyn is survived by her three children, her son, Neil E Newton and his wife, Joan of Northbridge; two daughters, Suzanne VanDyke of Northampton and Tracey Newton of New Gloucester Maine, where she has lived for the past three years. Six grandchildren, Ian Newton and his husband, Kevin Hickey of New York N.Y., Justin Newton of Northbridge, Susan Krikorian of Auburn, Seth Norlin and his wife, Sandra of Attleboro, Laura Hoffman and her husband, Matthew of Northampton, Blaine M Cornish of New Gloucester ME.; two great-grand- children, Felicity and Jakob Norlin of Attleboro. Evelyn was born in Saundersville, Massachusetts and was the last surviving child of five children born to Henri and Laura (LeMaire) Gagne.
Evelyn developed a love for life and the arts at an early age. Saturday movie matinees and dancing to the Big Band music were week-end events, and at the age of 16 she graduated from Sutton MA High School Class of 1938. Married in 1941 she and John spent five years at the Naval Base in Portsmouth Virginia during World War II.
Returning to Sutton MA Evelyn became active within the Sutton Woman's Club of the Congregation Church. During her time with the club, her interests of the arts blossomed as she directed several of the plays produced by the Woman's Club. 1954 was a busy year for Evelyn and her husband John, as they co-chaired the Sutton 250th bicentennial parade and the Trinity Class had them play on stage in a 1954 Spring Production of "The Mad-Hatters". In order to pursue her love of the stage Evelyn with Tony Muscenti and Ruth O'Shea formed the Sutton Players Club in 1956.
Evelyn's love of the stage was a partial outlet of sharing with others. But her creativity and talents were yet to be uncovered. Evelyn enrolled in the Evening College of Clark University with art as her major from the Worcester Art Museum. In 1962 Evelyn graduated from Clark University with a Bachelor of Science Degree and from the Worcester Art Museum with an Art Degree. Douglas and Sutton Schools Superintendent Deane Hoyt hired Evelyn in 1962 as art instructor in Douglas MA which served as practice teaching with the Worcester Art Museum.
September 1966 Superintendent Deane Hoyt hired Evelyn to teach art in Sutton grades 1 through 12. Evelyn received her Master of Arts in Teaching Fine Arts from Assumption College, Worcester, MA. In 1970, five Sutton Memorial High School students participated at the 20th annual Massachusetts Scholastic Art Awards Competition held in Boston, MA, and with a gold ribbon a Sutton student was entered in the National Exhibit in New York City. During the 1970's Evelyn was director of the Sutton Drama Club including "The Sound of Music" in 1970, and "My Fair Lady" in 1974. In 1974, in addition to being the art teacher for the Sutton Memorial Junior – Senior High School, Superintendent Gordon Spence named Evelyn as the Humanities Program Director for grades K through 12. In 1978 Evelyn retired from teaching and with her husband John moved to Brunswick Maine where she took up seascape and still life painting and entered into art shows throughout New Hampshire and Maine. Her paintings have been sold and are scattered in various parts of the country. Evelyn's artistry skills took her into the late hours of the evenings as she took to embroidery and quilting. A high- light for Evelyn was designing the needle point pieces which graces the Sanctuary of St Paul's Episcopal Church, Brunswick Maine.
After the passing of her husband, Evelyn eventually returned to Massachusetts and settled out in Amherst MA. Her love for painting continued with an intimate group of artists weekly at the Bangs Center in Amherst and she joined the Quilters Group at Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst MA and designed and quilted family quilts with several of her nieces and great nieces. With freedom of time, Evelyn re-kindled many friendships and discovered an inner calling to explore and visit the European cultures she had read and studied through-out the years. Over several decades visits were made to the British Isle, France, Venice, Rome, Belgium. Memories of a lifetime were collected and enjoyed. A cherished life was lived as best as one can live life. . In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made in the memory of Evelyn Newton to ST John's Episcopal Church 3 Pleasant Street Sutton.
Calling hours will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18th followed by a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. all in Mulhane Home for Funerals, 45 Main St. in Millbury. Burial will then follow in Howard Cemetery in Sutton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. John's Episcopal Church, 3 Pleasant St., Sutton, MA 01590.
Read Evelyn Newton's Obituary and Guestbook on mulhane.com.
Evelyn is survived by her three children, her son, Neil E Newton and his wife, Joan of Northbridge; two daughters, Suzanne VanDyke of Northampton and Tracey Newton of New Gloucester Maine, where she has lived for the past three years. Six grandchildren, Ian Newton and his husband, Kevin Hickey of New York N.Y., Justin Newton of Northbridge, Susan Krikorian of Auburn, Seth Norlin and his wife, Sandra of Attleboro, Laura Hoffman and her husband, Matthew of Northampton, Blaine M Cornish of New Gloucester ME.; two great-grand- children, Felicity and Jakob Norlin of Attleboro. Evelyn was born in Saundersville, Massachusetts and was the last surviving child of five children born to Henri and Laura (LeMaire) Gagne.
Evelyn developed a love for life and the arts at an early age. Saturday movie matinees and dancing to the Big Band music were week-end events, and at the age of 16 she graduated from Sutton MA High School Class of 1938. Married in 1941 she and John spent five years at the Naval Base in Portsmouth Virginia during World War II.
Returning to Sutton MA Evelyn became active within the Sutton Woman's Club of the Congregation Church. During her time with the club, her interests of the arts blossomed as she directed several of the plays produced by the Woman's Club. 1954 was a busy year for Evelyn and her husband John, as they co-chaired the Sutton 250th bicentennial parade and the Trinity Class had them play on stage in a 1954 Spring Production of "The Mad-Hatters". In order to pursue her love of the stage Evelyn with Tony Muscenti and Ruth O'Shea formed the Sutton Players Club in 1956.
Evelyn's love of the stage was a partial outlet of sharing with others. But her creativity and talents were yet to be uncovered. Evelyn enrolled in the Evening College of Clark University with art as her major from the Worcester Art Museum. In 1962 Evelyn graduated from Clark University with a Bachelor of Science Degree and from the Worcester Art Museum with an Art Degree. Douglas and Sutton Schools Superintendent Deane Hoyt hired Evelyn in 1962 as art instructor in Douglas MA which served as practice teaching with the Worcester Art Museum.
September 1966 Superintendent Deane Hoyt hired Evelyn to teach art in Sutton grades 1 through 12. Evelyn received her Master of Arts in Teaching Fine Arts from Assumption College, Worcester, MA. In 1970, five Sutton Memorial High School students participated at the 20th annual Massachusetts Scholastic Art Awards Competition held in Boston, MA, and with a gold ribbon a Sutton student was entered in the National Exhibit in New York City. During the 1970's Evelyn was director of the Sutton Drama Club including "The Sound of Music" in 1970, and "My Fair Lady" in 1974. In 1974, in addition to being the art teacher for the Sutton Memorial Junior – Senior High School, Superintendent Gordon Spence named Evelyn as the Humanities Program Director for grades K through 12. In 1978 Evelyn retired from teaching and with her husband John moved to Brunswick Maine where she took up seascape and still life painting and entered into art shows throughout New Hampshire and Maine. Her paintings have been sold and are scattered in various parts of the country. Evelyn's artistry skills took her into the late hours of the evenings as she took to embroidery and quilting. A high- light for Evelyn was designing the needle point pieces which graces the Sanctuary of St Paul's Episcopal Church, Brunswick Maine.
After the passing of her husband, Evelyn eventually returned to Massachusetts and settled out in Amherst MA. Her love for painting continued with an intimate group of artists weekly at the Bangs Center in Amherst and she joined the Quilters Group at Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst MA and designed and quilted family quilts with several of her nieces and great nieces. With freedom of time, Evelyn re-kindled many friendships and discovered an inner calling to explore and visit the European cultures she had read and studied through-out the years. Over several decades visits were made to the British Isle, France, Venice, Rome, Belgium. Memories of a lifetime were collected and enjoyed. A cherished life was lived as best as one can live life. . In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made in the memory of Evelyn Newton to ST John's Episcopal Church 3 Pleasant Street Sutton.
Calling hours will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18th followed by a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. all in Mulhane Home for Funerals, 45 Main St. in Millbury. Burial will then follow in Howard Cemetery in Sutton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. John's Episcopal Church, 3 Pleasant St., Sutton, MA 01590.
Read Evelyn Newton's Obituary and Guestbook on mulhane.com.
A service summary is not available