Suzanne Marie Newton

TUSCON, AZ — Suzanne Marie Newton was a loving wife and mother. Born in St. Peter, Minn., a small farming and college town in the Minnesota River Valley, she had a life-time interest in literature, fabric arts and politics. She was childhood friends with Annie Martell of John Denver’s Annie’s Song, and knew the family of Civil War Historian James McPherson. Suzanne’s grew up in a single parent home, but graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a Major in Political Science and a Minor Library Science in 3-1/2 years (1967). Suzanne moved to Washington D.C. to work at Georgetown University Libraries, where she met Michael Newton, a graduate student. They married in 1969, moved to Virginia, and in 1974, Peter was born. In 1980, they moved to Chattanooga where Suzanne volunteered in Peter’s schools, the League of Women Voters, Chattanooga Women’s Club and, was featured in the paper for a holiday grift drive for a local Women’s shelter. Sue served as a Volunteer Coordinator in Chattanooga City School System and with Girls, Inc. In 1994, a brief move to Kingman, Ariz., led to five great years in New Orleans, where Sue was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, while Manager of the campus store at the University of Holy Cross. In 2000, with a move to Tucson Suzanne returned to activity in Democratic politics as a volunteer for the Pima County and State Party After retirement travel was restricted due to Suzanne’s increasing frailty, and consisted of a trip to Washington State to meet her halfsiblings and families. She is survived by her husband Michael, son Peter, halfbrother Royal Schoen and halfsister Robin Schoen-Nessa, and their families. The Family asks in lieu of Flowers, that donations be made to San Xavier Del Bac Mission. https://sanxaviermission.org/support-us-1