Tracy Dawn (Lyle) Newton, age 59, of Melissa, Texas, passed away July 26, 2017. Tracy was born July 31, 1957, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to John Lewis and Paula Dawn (Shirer) Lyle. She was a guidance counselor in elementary education and a member of First United Methodist Church of McKinney.
She is survived by her sons, A.J. Newton of McKinney, Texas and Michael Newton of New York City, New York; her parents, John and Paula Lyle of Melissa, Texas; and a host of other loving family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her four grandparents and brother, John Michael Lyle.
Tracy was a talented dancer from a young age, winning the titles of Miss Teenage Dallas & Miss Teenage Texas in 1974. During college at Oklahoma State University, she was a featured twirler and could be found on the sidelines of various sporting events. Her skillful dancing eventually took her to the stages of Broadway where she performed in the long running musical 42nd Street. Upon returning to Texas she taught dance classes to a new generation of girls and boys.
Her love for teaching became her life’s work. Starting in special education, she moved on to kindergarten and then, in 1999, earned her Master’s Degree in counseling. The majority of her career was spent at Slaughter Elementary in McKinney and she also devoted time to the Stephen Ministries at FUMC as a volunteer counselor. She remained a school counselor until her retirement earlier this year.
Tracy touched countless lives through her years of teaching and counseling. An immeasurable outpouring of love from fellow teachers, as well as past and current students, has proven she was a truly wonderful person that will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, July 29, 2017, at First United Methodist Church of McKinney, 315 N. Church St., McKinney, Texas, 75069 with a reception to follow. The family will receive friends during a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. A graveside service will be held in Booneville, Arkansas on Monday, July 31, 2017.