Jane Ellen Newsom

Jane Ellen Newsom of League City, TX passed away on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at the age of 97. She was born on July 8, 1923 in Hollywood, CA and was the only child of parents Ivan F. and Stella (Ownbey) Kingman.

Jane attended elementary school in California and then New York. Her parents moved back to California where she attended Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles, CA and then the University of Santa Barbara. She met her future husband, Thomas L. Newsom, on the night of his high school graduation in 1939. They did not get married until Tom received his Commission after Air Force cadet training. They were married on April 28, 1944 in Glendale, CA.

When Tom returned from WWII, he was sent to Denver, CO where Jane graduated from Denver University. Jane was a home consultant for General Electric, and she taught Home Economics in the New York and then later in Texas. She was a very devoted military officer’s wife during Tom’s 30 years in the Air Force.

Jane was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Education honor society member of Kappa Delta Pi, Eastern Star member in Okinawa, Bay Area Military Officers Wives Club, Bay Oaks Country Club, Bay Area Panhellenic, Welcome Neighbors, Clear Lake Bridge Club and Newcomers Bridge Club. Jane lived in Timber Cove subdivision of Seabrook, TX since 1973 before moving to The Crossing Retirement Community in September of 2015.

As a young adult, Jane wanted to be an opera singer, but her father thought nursing would be a better profession. Her children fondly remember her working around the house or cooking while loudly singing opera much to their dismay. Jane enjoyed sewing, cooking and baking while raising four children. There were always freshly baked cookies, pies and cakes not to mention special brownies topped with a layer of icing. She became a sought after cake decorator for special occasions including wedding cakes for several family members and friends. Jane treasured her travels throughout the United States, as well as France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Russia, Portugal, Spain and Gibraltar just to name a few of the many places she visited. Jane enjoyed playing bridge with the many groups she joined in the Clear Lake area and continued to play bridge with her friends at The Crossing.

Jane is preceded in death by her husband, Tom, father Ivan and mother Stella.

She is survived by her children: Thomas L. Newsom, II and wife Nancy of Montgomery, TX, Steven G. Newsom and wife Francie of Alvin, TX, Lisa Barnard and husband Brent of New Braunfels, TX, and Tia Budde and husband Beau of Houston, TX. She is also survived by her four grandchildren Lauren Barnard Brizendine, Lindsay Barnard Rasberry, Marilyn Budde and Buchanan “Canan” Budde and her three great-grandchildren Jake Brizendine, Hallie Brizendine and Blakely Rasberry.

Jane will be laid to rest at Forest Park East Cemetery in Webster, TX on Monday June 7, 2021 in a private gathering for immediate family members.