Theresa Lynn Fancher-Newton

Theresa Lynn Fancher-Newton, age 30, found her way home Sept. 23, 2010, due to complications following eye surgery in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born in Omak, Wash., on Dec. 19, 1979, to Pamela J. (Rickel) Fancher and Scott Fancher.

Theresa came into this world running. At an early age she obliterated the stigma of her visual impairment and became a model of how one should live their life. At age two, Theresa had mastered the bunny hill at Sitzmark in Tonasket; by her early teens she was flying off the biggest jumps at the Loup Loup Ski Hill in Twisp. On top of earning straight A’s at Omak High School, cheerleading and showing horses, Theresa joined Winter Disabled Ski Team, in Colorado at age 15. Skiing took Theresa around the world. When she was a senior in high school, her win of two golds, a silver and bronze at the World Cup qualified her for the U.S. Disabled Ski Team and a spot on the 1998 U.S. Para-Olympic Team, where she brought home a bronze medal in slalom. She competed internationally for five years and was the top Female Blind skier in the U.S. and second in the world in her division.

Theresa was a proud graduate of Omak High School, class of 1998. Following high school, Theresa moved to Winter Park, Colo., to continue her passion for skiing. She worked at the Coffee and Tea Market at Winter Park for a few years. After Winter Park, Theresa moved to the Denver area and attended massage therapy school, graduating at the top of her class, Theresa started Integrated Body Works, her successful massage therapy practice, that she ran until the day of her passing.

In July of 2004, Theresa married her soul mate and the love of her life, William Newton. Theresa and William made their home in Lakewood, Colo. They invited many friends into their lives that they considered family. Theresa and William enjoyed their life together and made a great team, William was often part of her support crew when she traveled with the massage team for the Ride the Rockies cycle tours. They worked together taking care of disabled adults in their home. They enjoyed riding their horses, going to the mountains and spending time with their family and friends. Their canine friends were also an important part of their life. Among many of the things going on in her life she was learning to play the piano, the guitar, taking voice lessons and going back to college, achieving a Certificate of Excellence for maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.

Theresa leaves behind her husband of six years, William Newton; her mother, Pam Fancher; her father and step-mother, Scott Fancher and Michele Santanocito; her sister and her husband, Corrinn and Cory Fletcher; her nephews and nieces: Canyon, Nichol and Tison Fletcher; her step-siblings: Cari Hall and Jason Sprinkle; niece and nephews: Beau McManus, Madelyn Sprinkle, and Noah Sprinkle; her grandparents: JoAnn and Gene Michels, I.V. Joe and Roberta Rickel, Jick and Helen Fancher; her aunts and uncles: Tenise and Mike Kessler, Ken Rickel, Don and Dianne Fancher, Nancy and Pat Connelly; her cousins: Erin Nielsen, Shelby Kessler, Jordan and Isaiah Rickel, and J.C. and Caitlin Connelly; and her loving guide dog companion who never left her side, Jada.

Theresa was preceded in death by her great-grandparents; her good friend Mike Bloss; her first guide dog Hooper; and her very special horse Flame.

Theresa was the light in every person’s life whom she touched. Please visit her memorial page at www.horancares.com and share your memories of Theresa with her family by selecting the “Sign Guestbook” button.

Memorial services will be Saturday Oct. 9, at 1 p.m. at the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Church, 328 N. Riverside Drive in Omak.