Connie Kaye Newsome, 79, passed away September 30, 2024, in Wakefield, Kansas.  She was born in Concordia, Kansas, on July 24, 1945, to Gyla (Martin) Brownell and Russell Brownell.  Connie attended grade school at Sherman School, a small rural school north of Morganville, Kansas, and other schools in Baker City, Oregon, Sumas, Nooksack, and Ferndale, Washington. Connie graduated from Clay County High School in 1964 and graduated from the Brown Mackie School of Business.  

Connie married Donald Newsome and had two sons, David and Tony, but were later divorced.  Over the years, Connie had lived and worked in Florida, Kansas, Nebraska, Arizona and  in Washington State.  She worked in positions in manufacturing and ranching and loved taking care of horses and her pet dogs.  Connie was a member of the Christ the King Community Church, International in Burlington, Washington.  She was preceded in death by father Russell Brownell, mother Gyla (Martin, Brownell) Alquist,  brother Russell “Bobby” Brownell, brother Phillip Alquist, son Donald “David” Newsome (USN), adoptive father Keith Alquist Sr. and stepmother Ruth Alquist.  

Connie is survived by son Anthony “Tony” Newsome, grandsons Anthony and Ryan Newsome and a great-granddaughter in Florida.  Connie is also survived by brother Keith Alquist II (Julie) Brighton, Colorado, brother Eric Alquist (Michelle) Clay Center, Kansas, sister Christine Sauder (Brady) Manhattan, Kansas, cousin Tom Gilbert (Kay) Clay Center, Kansas, stepbrothers Jim Smith (Laura) Topeka, Kansas, and Bill Smith (Janet) Salina, Kansas, and stepsister Patricia Halstead Clay Center, Kansas and many other cousins of the Sperry, Hinkel and Schepp families in Texas, Florida, Missouri, Kansas and North Dakota. 

A celebration of life reception will be held from 12:00PM until 3:00PM on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at the United Methodist Church Family Life Center in Clay Center, Kansas.

A private inurnment will take place in the Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center, Kansas.