Nelle Newton Grainger

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Nelle Newton Grainger on June 30, 2025, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Born May 15, 1945, in Washington, D.C., Nelle was courageous, adventurous, kindhearted, and compassionate. A nurse by profession, she worked at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, New Mexico and was one of the nurses at the Woodstock Music Festival in New York in 1969. Nelle’s altruistic nature and generosity was exemplified in memories of her buying prescription medication and groceries for a single mother without any money whose baby had a terrible infection. She assisted a young woman in Mexico to get her education and become a teacher, among many other acts of kindness. Nelle loved horses and was a skilled and fearless rider. She rebelled against a life of relentless pursuit of achievement and instead pursued small acts of altruism under the radar.

Nelle is preceded in death by her parents, James Quigg Newton and Virginia Shafroth Newton of Denver, Colorado, and spouse James Richard Grainger (passed May 2023) whom she lived with on a ranch in Sonora, Mexico, for 18 years. She was previously married to Peter Michael Bassin (passed December 2024). Nelle is survived by her sisters Nancy (Nan) Newton, Abby Newton, and Virginia (Ginna) Newton, and her children Andrea Bassin, Patricia Grainger Dihle and husband Luke Dihle, and James Robert Grainger and wife Alison Kierst. Her grandchildren Kiah, Adella, Braith, Gabriel and Keaton are continuing to exemplify her courage and altruism, as well as, the many nieces, nephew, and their children.

Nelle’s family is in gratitude for the caregivers at Montecito Memory Care of Santa Fe and particularly her dedicated caregiver, Carolina, who provided invaluable care and attention. We are also grateful for the assistance of Reese St. James at the end of her life.

Nelle is not in need of flowers or charitable donations—but would ask that each of those who loved her bestow an act of kindness toward someone in need.