Judith Newquist

Judith Ann (Donker) Newquist, 77, Gladstone MO, passed away on Friday, August 5, 2016, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Memorial services will be 1:00 pm on Wednesday, Aug. 10th, 2016 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home with Rev. Al Schirmacher officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, Aug. 9th, 2016 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the KU Endowment for Oncology Patient Assistance or the Celiac Disease Foundation and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com. Judy was born on Dec. 2, 1938, in Beloit, KS the daughter of James and Grace (Holbrook) Donker, the last of eight children. She met Garry Newquist while in high school and they married on Feb. 15, 1958. They moved to Effingham, Kansas, where they raised three children. They were later divorced. Judy was a life-long lover of music, singing in church and school choirs. Her true love was singing barbershop harmony and she fulfilled that passion by performing with the Sunflower Harmony Chorus in Topeka. As a member of that group, she competed on many stages across the country, including San Antonio, TX and Baltimore, MD. Her most proud achievement was a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She also enjoyed embroidery and cross stitched beautiful baby quilts for the grandchildren, great grandchildren, and the children of many family friends. Judy loved to travel and was always ready for a trip. She was especially fond of the mountains and the Pacific Northwest, but also traveled to Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Florida, and New England. Fall was her favorite season and she often took long drives through the countryside just to enjoy the autumn colors. Survivors include her three children, Tonnie (Joe) Furjanic, Kansas City, KS, Bill (Glenda) Newquist, Muscotah, KS, and Tammy Newquist (Dee Cameron), Gladstone, MO, grandchildren Ryan and Rachel Newquist; step grandchildren Matt (Jen) Furjanic and Melanie (Dave) Ryan; step great grandchildren Grayson Furjanic and Parker and Elliot Ryan; three sisters, two brothers, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, and a sister.