Friday, February 19, 2016

And will I want to be the person I've become, when all is said and done.

This isn't the last post- there's still more we want to say, to share. But this is another turning point. We still need to talk about last words and things I promised her I would say, but this is as much as I can do for now.

Sara Ann Foutz Newman, aged 59, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2016, in her beloved home in Payson, Utah. She had received a terminal diagnosis of stage IV brain cancer on December 14, 2015, and was able to be surrounded by family and friends nearly constantly for the final two months of her extraordinary life. Even in those difficult weeks she remained an example of love and charity to all who have been blessed to know her.

Sara was born to the late Hal Bert Foutz and Liane Bunnell Foutz on November 29, 1956 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was the fourth of six children, Les, her brother, and her sisters Holly, Ellen, Susan, and Lisa, all of whom survive her. Her father owned an airplane taxi service and would frequently transport people from Las Vegas to Los Angeles or other large close cities,  and Sara had many fond memories of her father taking her flying with him in the evenings. Flying was such an important part of her young life that she earned her pilot's license at the age of 15, and could legally fly airplanes before she could drive a car.

She graduated from Clark High School after participating in cheerleading and getting such excellent grades that the school principal would excuse her and her two best friends to go skiing on school days, weather permitting. Sara then left the warmth and heat of the Nevada desert to attend Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho for one year before transferring to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Her sense of adventure stayed with her, and while on tour in Europe with the BYU folk dancers she fell in love with Michael David Newman, who was also on tour with the dancers as a musician. They were married in the Provo, Utah LDS Temple on December 14, 1977. Mike and Sara remain sweethearts, best friends, and true loves, and have been a great example of teamwork and marriage for everyone who knows them. She is preceded in death and welcomed into Heaven by her daughter, Karissa Newman, and survived by her husband, Michael David Newman, and her remaining three children, Anna Ciera Newman Birch (Bryant Birch), Angela Dawn Newman Day (William Day), and Stephen Michael Newman (Judy Newman). She is also survived by her five grandchildren, Ashelynn Ciera Birch, Bryson Paul Birch, Caringtyn Anna Birch, Brandon Stephen Day, and Connor William Day, for all of whom Grandma Sara was the favorite.

Sara was an example of charity and service. She was a substitute teacher at Wilson Elementary, where the kids would greet her with smiles and cheers of "Mrs. Newman!!" She was an integral part of the director's board for the Springville International Folkfest for over two decades where groups of professional folk dancers from all over the world would gather to celebrate and share their unique cultural heritage. In that responsibility she built bridges of friendship and understanding that quite literally spanned the world. She served in Stake Young Women's presidencies and Relief Society presidencies, Women's Conference committees and Temple Shift and Veil coordinators, and as a missionary in the Young Women's room of the LDS church office building in Salt Lake City, where she made wonderful lifelong friendships with other women serving in various church capacities, both highly visible and less so. She was easy to love, because she gave love so easily and served so gracefully.

Sara's greatest ambition in life was to bring people closer to the Savior and help them feel His love. At various points in her life when people attempted to give her recognition she would always deflect it upward, giving the praise and thanks to our Heavenly Father. She taught her children never to be afraid of hard work and to always rely on prayer, to consistently look upward for guidance, and to never be afraid of people no matter where they were from or what beliefs they held to, but to love them first as brothers and sisters and worry about the rest later. She has now graduated from this life, and is celebrating a reunion in Heaven with those who love her who have waited for her there. She continues to be an example to the rest of us, so we can be reunited in the morning of the first resurrection.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 11:00am at the Payson Utah West Stake Center, 500 South 800 West in Payson, Utah. Family and friends may come to a Viewing on Monday, February 22, 2016 from 6pm-8pm at the Walker Funeral Home, 587 South 100 West in Payson, Utah 84651. Interment will be at the Payson City Cemetary with a gravesite dedication. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walkerobits.com, or at the family blog following Sara's cancer at www.wewillbetogetherinthemorning.blogspot.com.






















11 comments:

  1. So much love to all of you. We will all miss her terribly.

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  2. So much love to all of you. We will all miss her terribly.

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  3. My sincere condolences for your loss.
    In times like these, I like the words of Irving Berlin - "The song is ended but the melody lingers on…" The spirit of your mom, as well as her legacy, lingers on like a beautiful melody.
    Peace be unto you and your family.


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  4. An absolutely beautiful tribute! To an absolutely amazing daughter of God! We will all miss her so much... But her memory and goodness will live on through you, her kids & grandkids, & Uncle Mike! ♡ We love you all so much! Thank you again, Angie & crew, for allowing us the privilege of hearing your thoughts & experiences on this blog. It's been a true gift to all who love her! Thank you! ♡♡♡♡♡

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  5. Sara is such a great example. I really feel like she exemplified a Christ-like life. She had learned much and then by example taught others. Her mission on earth really was complete. Complete in love. Complete in family, charity, service, example, work, kindness. And the list goes on. I have no doubt she was welcomed warmly in the spirit world. I felt it the night she passed away. I felt that Karissa was with her and I imagined their embrace. May you all feel comfort and peace during this hard time. I know she is still with you. Love, Brooke Birch

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  6. While we here on earth are filled with tears of separation, heaven is gloriously basking in the light and laughter of a joyous homecoming. What a tender mercy, to have been blessed with some time to share our love and gratitude to such an exemplary woman and her loving family.

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  7. I am sorry for your loss Brother Newman and family. I was just telling my husband the other day about how you were one of my favorite primary teachers when I was probobly only 7 years old. I lived that you would sing with the guitar and bring m.n.m.s to our class. She was always kind. What a beautiful obituary. It is inspiring and I hope I can emulate her in my life. May peace be about you at this time. EmmyLou Jensen Killinger

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  8. Sara touched my life but a few short years. I remember meeting Sara for the first time when our wards were put together. I shall always remember her great spirit and love for all she came in contact with. She has left a lasting impression on my life. This is not goodbye Sara this is "Until we meet again" Love you

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  9. I was a little twerp when Sara and Mike were married, but they were the "IT" couple. After Uncle Hal and Aunt Liane moved to Utah, our families didn't see each other as much. But, Sara was someone my mother always lit up with when they talked. My mother would update us on Sara, throughout her life. Folk dancing with BYU, meeting/marrying Mike, her involvement in the Spanish Fork International Folk Festival, and when her baby, Karissa, was born and unable to survive. My heart goes out to Sara's beautiful family left with a void on this earth, while she is being her wonderful self to all in the spirit world. I thank her children/in-law children for giving those of us who have not kept in touch, this beautiful, sweet, intimate portrait of Sara and what she is truly made of. Best always, Jane Foutz

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  10. What a fine woman! So glad to know that we continue these great relationships in the next life! What a hard time and so bitter sweet. Our prayers are with you.

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  11. Dear Newman Family, my heart is heavy with grief for the loss of your mother, wife and grandmother she was a wonderful women and she was my friend from the first time we move here. I know she has been welcome with open arms by Heavenly Father and loved ones. May the Lord bless you with the strength and comfort in this difficult time. We love you

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