Fay Newton

Fay Ann Harvey Newton was born on May 30, 1945 to Andrew and Grace (Rodda) Harvey in Pendleton. She passed on March 31, 2022 in Spokane.

She was the youngest of three daughters raised on a ranch on Despain Gulch. Her childhood was full of horses, friends, and family. She attended schools in Pendleton, graduating in 1963.  Her first years of college were at the University of Oregon, and she later received both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education from Eastern Oregon College.

                Fay married Steve Bunker in 1964. They had three children, Brigette, Spencer, and Klint. They were later divorced. She married Greg Newton in 1987. He brought a daughter, Tiffany, into the family.

                Fay was a teacher for many years. She taught in Umatilla County schools for several years, then moved to Western Oregon. She met Greg while teaching in the Eugene area.

                Fay loved to travel. In her earlier years, she lived in Mexico briefly while attending college and then lived in Berlin, Germany, while her husband Steve served in the military. After Fay and Greg married, they traveled often, with trips to Europe, Central America, and Cuba, as well as many road trips around the United States. Their children and grandchildren were sometimes lucky enough to travel with them.

                She had a beautiful soprano voice, winning the state solo contest in high school. She played Kate in “Kiss Me, Kate” in college, sang for a short while with Portland Opera and continued her singing with the Oregon East Symphony Chorale after her return to Pendleton. Her time in the theater gave her a love of making costumes which she used to make costumes for the WestwardHo! parade.

                When they retired, she and Greg moved to West Birch Creek outside of Pilot Rock to care for her mother. They have made their home there since. Their retirement years have been filled with family, pets, travel, and country living.

                She is survived by her husband Greg, daughter Brigette (Mike) Brandhagen of Pendleton, son Spencer (Margarita) McCloud of Portland, step-daughter Tiffany (Jay) Kenslow of The Dalles, grandchildren Jessi (Akira) Okazaki and Evan Brandhagen of Pendleton, sister Silva (Kal) Garton of Pendleton, nieces, nephews, and many cousins.

                She was preceded in death by her parents Andrew and Grace Harvey, sister Thelma Cook, an infant sister, and her son Klint Bunker.

                A Celebration of Life and potluck are planned May 28th at 1 pm at the Pilot Rock Community Center.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the PHS Music Department (107 NW 10th St).