Donita Ray Allred Newton Rule

Donita Ray Rule, 81, of Wildorado, TX died Saturday, October 31, 2026.

Viewing will be from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo, TX. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm, Thursday, November 5, 2026 in Palo Duro Baptist Church in Wildorado, TX, with Dr. Ron Muller officiating. Burial will follow in Palo Duro Cemetery in Wildorado, TX with Austin Griffin officiating. Arrangements are Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Donita was born on February 13, 1945 in Amarillo, TX to Wilma Lee and Glenn Allred.

Donita “Nonnie” was a lifelong Christian accepting Christ as her savior at GA Summer Camp at 10 ½ years old. She was baptized at Palo Duro Baptist Church in Wildorado, TX in September 1955. She was proud of being the church's longest living member. She was a lifelong lover of History and Genealogy, many times spending vacations in cemeteries looking at head stones and researching relatives. She was proud to have traced her family tree back 6 generations. She is the author of the “History of the Palo Duro Baptist Church” and “The History of the Palo Duro Cemetery.” She graduated from Hereford High School in 1963 where she was a member of The Whiteface Mighty Maroon Marching Band where she represented them in the Cotton Bowl Parade. Attending College at WEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY in Canyon. She was a member of Dr. Gary Garner’s WTSU Marching Band. Donita graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1968. She earned a Masters Degree in Education in 1993 from WEST TEXAS A&M University. She spent 2 summers studying aboard at the INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO Y DE ESTIUDIOS SUPERIORES in Monterrey Mexico receiving an endorsement in Bilingual/ESL - for all levels. Donita was a natural born teacher who spent 40 years in the classrooms of Vega, Hereford, & Amarillo. Elementary bilingual education was where she spent the majority of her career. She loved to speak in Spanish, many times she would communicate with a stranger in Spanish rather than English. When asked why one time, she responded “they hear english all day long I want them to know a spanish speaking white person cares and wants to help them be understood.” Another time when speaking to a fluent Spanish Speaker she was asked to slow down as she was speaking Spanish so fast they could not keep up. She loved to work with English as a Second Language or ESL students. After retiring from teaching school she volunteered for the ESL program at the First Baptist Church of Amarillo. She also was a Consultant / proofreader for Spanish Doctoral Program at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN. She worked at Sylvan Learning Center, always wanting to help a child in spanish, english, reading and math. If you knew her she would correct your grammar regardless of who you were or where you were. Later in life she volunteered at Ussery Roan Texas Veterans Home, helping residents with activities and teaching them Spanish. One of her greatest joys was playing the Organ, teaching a children's Sunday school, and leading Vacation Bible School at her church, where many children not related enjoyed “Nonnies” class. She enjoyed leading bible studies in both English and Spanish to Adults across the panhandle. She was very active throughout her community, helping with many different festivals and parades. Donita served on the Fiesta Patrias committee where she organized the parade and the Queen for the 16 de Septiembre Celebration. She was a very proud Texan and American and assisted many to achieve their US Citizenship. Donita was very active in the Deaf Smith Classroom Teacher Association, Texas Association of Bilingual Educators, Texas Retired Teachers Association, where she served in many different levels of leadership. She was known to step in to help wherever she was needed and a few times where she wasn’t. She never met a stranger many times talking to or visiting with anyone who would take the time to listen. She could be heard telling of how proud she was of her children, grandchildren and Great Granddaughter. She collected Salt & Pepper Shakers and at one time had over 1000 pairs. However, her most prized collection was of Windmills which included models, pictures, and paintings. The last year of her life she lived at Brookdale Senior Residences, where she met a new family. Continuing to lead a Bible study and help others learn more about her Savior. She had a love of Jigsaw puzzles and shared many hours with family and friends sorting pieces and putting them together. Donita was very strong-willed and had no problem correcting or calling someone out. Must have been the teacher in her. We pray she has not changed some of the ways Jesus does things in Heaven. In collusion in the words of her daughter, Jeanita “ Nonnie was sometimes hard to love, and sometimes she said the wrong things, sometimes things were just crazy, but she loved everyone the only way she knew how. We are thankful she is experiencing the Perfect Love of her Lord & Savior Jesus. Enjoy Heaven Nonnie. See you at Supper Time.’

She was preceded in death by her parents, Glenn and Wilma Lee Allred; sister, Judy Lee Allred; sister, Peggy Allred Kerley; and brother-in-law, Oren Kerley.

Donita is survived by her son, Jay Newton and wife Vietta of Vega, TX; daughters, Jeanita Carder and husband Steve of Bushland, TX and Jerilyn Brewer and husband Aaron of Amarillo, TX; grandchildren, Ernest Newton and wife Ashley of Lansing MI, Heather Smith and husband Tucson of Vega, TX Brianne Fox and husband Andrew of Amarillo, TX, Kase Skipper of Amarillo, TX, Kody Skipper of Amarillo, TX and Cole Watson Brewer of Amarillo, TX; great-grandchild, Hartley Smith of Vega, TX; brother, Roddy “Bud” Allred and wife Janice of Wildorado, TX; numerous nieces, nephews, & cousins.

Memorials can be made to FBC Amarillo ESL Ministry, Palo Duro Baptist Church or FBC Vega.