Keith & Keith Funeral Home

(May 27, 1962 - December 5, 2008)

YAKIMA - Elizabeth Marie Newstead, 46, died on Friday night at Memorial Hospital after a valiant four year battle with leukemia.

Elizabeth was born to Dr. Robert & Marie Carmela Newstead on the south side of Chicago on a Sunday. Elizabeth was the first child born to Robert and Carmela and the first grandchild to Frank & Marie Li Puma. She brought instant joy to all, including her paternal grandmother Agnes Newstead.

Elizabeth graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1980 and from Whitman College with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1984. Liz moved to Seattle and began her career in public affairs. In 1988, Liz returned to Chicago to follow her career in public relations. While in Chicago, she earned her Masters in Communication from Northwestern University. At 36 Liz quit her job and career, deciding that being close to her family was more important.

Inspired by Whitman College and her love of education, Liz embarked on a new career in teaching, earning her second Masters, this time in Education from Seattle University in 1997. Liz loved teaching and being around young minds. She embarked on a foreign teaching post in Brazil at the American School of Brasila. In Brasila, Liz found her true calling in teaching.

Liz was a fervent believer in two things: education and her family. She liked nothing more than being with her family and sharing celebrations with her nieces and nephews over dinners where all points of interest were covered. She had an intense love for politics and was the consummate champion for social issues which affect women, children and the poor. She was a believer in the value of public service, and she felt inspired by her work on the mayoral campaigns of Mayor Washington, Mayor Daley of Chicago and the Presidential campaign of Bill Clinton. She loved life and her enthusiasm was infectious.