PORTLAND, OR (August 14, 2013) – Marian Adele (Kirk) Newton, wife of retired Covenant pastor Ed Newton, died August 7, less than a week after learning she had acute cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 24, at First Covenant Church.

Newton, 71, was born September 9, 1941, in Vom, Nigeria, to missionaries with the Sudan Interior Mission. She lived there with her parents and her younger sister, Beryl, until her father died when she was eight years old. She and her sister then attended a missionary school near Toronto, Ontario, while their mother continued to work in Nigeria.

She graduated nursing school at Calgary General Hospital in 1964. She went on to work as a surgical nurse.

The Newtons were married June 18, 1966. Their years in ministry included calls to Calvary Covenant Church in Erie, Pennsylvania; Lakeview Covenant Church in Duluth, Minnesota; and Hillsview Covenant Church in Gresham, Oregon.

In addition to her husband, survivors include daughters Charlene Wilson and Sandy Coulter, as well as five grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made in Marian’s name to First Covenant Church, 107 NE 45th Ave. Portland, Oregon 97213