Janet Ellen Newman

Janet Ellen Newman was born at home on January 21, 1945, in Cumberland Furnace, TN, to N J (Noah James) and Henrietta (Murphy) Foster and passed from this life on March 8th, 2024, at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Janet lived and grew up at the family farm on Little Bartons Creek Road along with her brothers, parents, and grandparents. Her primary school was a simple one-room schoolhouse a mile from her home, which she and her brother frequently walked to. Born not only with an exceptionally pleasant disposition but also with a brilliant mind, she excelled in her classwork, graduating from Charlotte High School as salutatorian. She went on to attend Austin Peay University with a double major in Math and Chemistry. Her home didn't have indoor plumbing, which may have been an inducement to move away to college. During her time at the university, she earned her usual straight As in every academic subject. While volunteering at a USO function at Ft Campbell, KY, she caught the eye of a young soldier from Oklahoma who was irrevocably smitten. PFC Richard Newman wooed her and pestered her (he likes to joke "stalked" her) until she agreed to go out with him. They married on July 31, 1965, at the post chapel. It was a simple ceremony with long-lasting results-over 58 years. For the next few years, Janet dutifully followed her husband to Stillwater, OK, for his degree. He worked to support the family while she cared for, trained, and educated their firstborn, Richard III. Next was Garden City, MI, where Richard worked for Ford Motor Co. Janet was busy being the best mom to her growing family, having given birth to a second son, Daniel, in Wayne, MI. The family then moved to Tulsa, OK, Phoenix, AZ, and back to Tulsa, OK, with the Willams Companies. Janet masterfully managed the household as Richard's career flourished. By 1980, with both the boys deeply involved in school, Janet began to spread her wings in the workforce with a job as a computer programmer with Cites Service Company. By 1990 she moved to American Airlines as a database analyst. In each assignment, her performance was exemplary and contributed to the excellence of the company. But she still managed to be the best mom, spending quality time with the kids and helping them learn to help others. Along the way she completed a degree in Computer Science. Baptized as a young girl at Dunn's Chapel in Little Bartons Creek in Cumberland Furnace, Janet always had a deeply spiritual side with love and joy at her core. During her formative years, she attended church with her family each week. And as an adult, she diligently and quietly served at East Side Christian Church in Tulsa, working in the Sunday School, helping with the teen youth group and meals on wheels, and serving as a Deaconess and later as an Elder and eventually as the chairman of the Elders. She was honored for her commitment to the church, being designated as 1991 as "Eastsider of the Year," and yet she always maintained a sense of humility. Beautiful on the inside and the outside, Janet always had a smile and a word of encouragement for every person she met. After her retirement, she was active as a CASA volunteer and loved working as a Master Gardener. At local middle schools, she would teach classes on the benefits of insects in the garden. Generous with her time as well as her money, she was always willing to help out a friend or a family member, whether it was pulling weeds or planting a new shrub or tree. Her favorite charities, apart from the church, included Habitat for Humanities and Special Olympics and St Jude's Childrens Hospital. Janet loved to travel, and she loved people. It didn't really matter where she went, she liked to take folks along, whether it was a trip to Disneyland taking the whole family or a trip with her sister-in-law to England. She made several trips with beloved co-workers including St. Thomas, Paris, Vail, and St Martins. If Richard wanted to come along, that was ok, if not she was likely to go anyway and yet they took many trips together, Italy, Turkey, Hawaii, Ava Maria Island, even a trip to California, too many to recall. The simple fact is that Janet loved others, and those she met, even for the first time, fell in love with her. Later in life, Janet became a pastor's wife, as Richard went into the ministry. Even though it was a role she didn't ask for, she filled it with relish. As a transitional minister, her husband served several churches across Oklahoma, and Janet was right there in the trenches with him-helping with vacation Bible school, social events, reviewing and critiquing sermons, and generally ensuring that her husband knew that she was in his corner. Richard and Janet traveled many hills and valleys in their years together; she was always a constant and loving companion for the journey. They were blessed with two sons Richard III and Daniel and then blessed anew with grandchildren Danielle, Amber, and Collin. Janet is survived by her husband, Richard O. Newman Jr. ; two brothers, Ivan and Willard Foster of Tennessee; son Richard O. Newman III and wife Katie of Wilmington, TX; son Daniel Newman and wife Angela of Lee's Summit, MO; three delightful grandchildren, Danielle, Amber, and Collin; three step-grandchildren Elizabeth, Veronica and Lucas, and step great-grandson Asher; as well as numerous beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents N J and Henrietta Foster, her sister-in-law and best friend Linda Weathers, her brother- and sister-in-law Mark and Cheryl Newman, and numerous beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. A celebration of life will take place at Harvard Avenue Christian Church on March 13th at 11 AM followed by a committal service at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation at Moore's Southlawn from 5-8 PM on Tuesday March 12th.

Janet Ellen Newman

January 21, 1945 - March 8, 2024