Laura Mae Wyant

Laura Mae Wyant, 86, passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at Salina Presbyterian Manor in Salina, KS. Visitation will be Friday, August 19th, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 20th at First Baptist Church, Junction City, KS. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 31, Junction City, KS 66441.

Laura Mae Newton was born on November 7, 1935 to Warren C. and Laura M. (Jones) Newton in Emporia, KS. She was the youngest of ten children. She grew up on farms outside of Reading, KS. She attended school in Reading, KS except for her 3rd grade year, as it was during WW2 when her dad and several siblings worked in the shipyards in California. After graduating from high school, she attended Ottawa University and earned her teaching certificate. At age 19, she began her teaching career at Washington Elementary School in Junction City. Like many teachers, she continued her education in the summers and completed her education with a Master’s Degree in Education.

She met her future husband, Donnie L. Wyant, while singing in the First Baptist Church choir. He was serving in the US Army while stationed at Ft. Riley. They married on February 5, 1961, on a snowy day in Reading, KS. They had two children, Debra and Donald. As a military family, they have lived in Kansas, Puerto Rico, Texas, Virginia, and Germany. Laura taught at several schools around the world but retired from Washington Elementary School (the same school where her career began) after teaching for 34 years.

Laura loved music; as a child she played violin and taught herself to play the piano. She loved singing in church choirs, in Ladies Trios, with her husband and children, and as a member of the JC Troubadours. Laura served in many roles at the First Baptist Church and volunteered at Geary Community Hospital. She looked forward to (and planned) many of the Newton family reunions. She loved a challenging game of ping-pong oftentimes beating people half her age. She was an accomplished game and card player. She loved all sports and enjoyed cheering on her grandsons and the KSU Wildcats! While her hobbies were many, most of all, she loved her family, her church, and her friends! Her greatest desire for her family and friends was that they would each know Jesus as their Lord and Savior!

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, Donald Wyant; and her siblings Edwin Newton, Ruth (Newton) Guptill, Lloyd Newton, Rachel (Newton) Smith, Kenneth Newton, Betty (Newton) Noll, Lee Newton, and William Newton.

Survivors include her daughter, Debra Wyant; daughter-in-law, Janell (Seaman) Wyant; grandsons, Kyle (Harlie) Wyant and Jason Wyant; great granddaughter, Shiloh Wyant; sister, Joyce Jennings, and a multitude of nieces and nephews.