Jere Ann Newton

Jere Ann Williamson Newton, surrounded by her husband and daughters, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on August 9, 2025, her mind and body restored after a courageous journey with dementia, free and whole once again.

Jere was born on March 30, 1956, in Midwest City, Oklahoma, to the late Ellen (Koehler) and LeRoy Williamson, joining sister Vicky, brother Mark, and later on, little sister Janet. LeRoy, a petroleum engineer with Phillips 66, took his family on quite the cross-country adventure, living in Shidler, Oklahoma, Cortez, Colorado, Casper, Wyoming, and Borger, Texas. Jere liked to tell people she went to 9 schools in 4 states in 12 years. Jere credited her ability to make friends anywhere she went to the fact she was always the new kid which helped form her outgoing personality and relation to people. Jere graduated from Borger High School in 1974 and attended Frank Phillips Junior College for 2 years before transferring to Texas Tech University where she earned a BA in Social Work in 1978, while at Texas Tech, Jere made many lifelong friends.

After graduation, Jere moved to Littlefield, Texas, to begin her career as a Child Protective Service case worker for Lamb and Bailey counties; it was there that she met her husband Alan Newton, a local independent insurance agent. Alan and Jere were married on October 16, 1982, at the First Presbyterian Church of Littlefield. Jere maintained her position with CPS until the birth of their first child, Lauren in 1983, they welcomed a second daughter, Valerie, in 1986. Jere spent the next several years staying home with her daughters and doing contract private home studies for several area counties.

Jere exuded compassion for all, strong leadership skills, a drive to make her community better especially for the underserved, a listening ear to anyone in need, patience, humor, and a love of time with family, especially traveling together. While her girls were school aged, Jere found herself in many volunteer positions in Littlefield and the surrounding areas: Jere was a Girl Scout leader, a Girl Scout Service Unit President, Girl Scout Day Camp director, a Girl Scout Outdoor Trainer, Littlefield High School Band Booster President, Sunday School teacher at First Presbyterian Church, a Practical Parenting Educator for Littlefield ISD, and a volunteer reader for the Lamb County Juvenile Detention Center. After Jere’s daughters graduated high school, she found herself with even more time on her hands allowing her to volunteer with Rural Children’s Initiative, LEAF (Llano Estacado Alliance for Families), and occasionally as a summer camp counselor at Camp Rio Blanco.

In 2009, Jere took a full-time position with Lamb County working in the Family Resource Center specifically with juvenile probation, teaching parenting classes, and offering private counseling.

Jere loved many things, most of all spending time with her husband and daughters whether snow skiing in Colorado and New Mexico or attempting to travel to all 50 states. Jere was a voracious reader, there was an eternal stack of non-fiction books on her nightstand until dementia stole that ability. In 2015, Jere was promoted to “Jeje” upon the birth of her first grandchild; all other enjoyments paled when it came to spending time with her grandchildren.

All the attributes that made Jere who she was were recognized many times: namely, in receiving the Women of Distinction award from Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains in 1998 and again in 2013, the Littlefield Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year award in 2003, as well as countless other acknowledgements from the many organizations she served on. No matter how many achievements she received or lives she touched, Jere walked in humble graciousness each day of her life.

After several years of frustration, Jere received the diagnosis of early onset dementia in May 2020 at the age of 65. Despite this life altering diagnosis, Jere persevered in her personal and professional life, determined to live and experience as much as she could. Jere officially retired from her work with Lamb County Juvenile Probation March 31, 2021. Between April 2021 and August 2022, Jere and Alan spent most of their time traveling to Arkansas and Florida to be with their four grandchildren.

In Jere’s final years, she received the utmost care and compassion from many individuals namely Leah Delgado, Matty Nino, and Christine Smith at Raider Ranch; ALL of the amazing staff at Fountain Hills Memory Care; Grayce Hospice; and most of all, her earth angels: Cindy Castillo and Kayla Arredondo.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Alan, of Littlefield; daughters, Lauren Morter and husband Russell of Rogers, Arkansas; Valerie Mailhot and husband Brian, of Lubbock; grandchildren Matthew, Caroline, Wesley, and Bennett; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her older sister, Vicky Hudgeons, and in-laws FL and Mary Newton.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Jere’s memory to Camp Rio Blanco Circle of Friends, PO Box 64171, Lubbock, Texas 79464 or www.crbcircleoffriends.org