February 28, 1955 – February 6, 2011
Suzanne joined her daughter, Molly Larson, on their next great adventure, passing away peacefully at home after a valiant 4 year-battle with brain cancer. What an amazing woman, mom, sister, friend and colleague! She never lost her sense of humor OR her deep and abiding faith.
She touched many lives as an innovative and skillful occupational therapist in the Battle Ground and Kelso School Districts. With specialties in adaptive technology and autism, she developed programs that enabled kids to succeed beyond expectations. With a passion for service and a talent for building, she volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, homeless shelter programs, PTA activites and her kids' sporting events. She found her greatest joy in her childrfen.
She is survived by her son, Dan Larson; her dad, Bill; sister, Mary Kay (Dave); and brother, Brian (Jackee). She was preceded in in death by her daughter, Molly, and her mom, Pat.
A celebratioin of her life will be held on Saturday, February 26th, 2011 at Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Vancouver at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Mercy Corps, Save the Children or Doctors without Borders.
I met Suzanne in 2nd grade. She and her family moved from Wichita, KS into a big yellow colonial just around the corner. We had endless sleepovers, slumber parties, seances in the darkened laundry room, mowing the lawn on the first-ever sit-down mower in our neighborhood, swimming at a club pool and eating ice cream late at night. At our 10th year reunion, she suggested that we (Pam Venable, Mary Matous, Annie Robinson and I) spend a weekend at her folks' cabin north of Roslyn.
Thus began an almost 30-year annual tradition. We'd eat, talk, laugh, cry and repeat. We could always count on at least one belly-laugh thanks to Suzanne. It was her physical comedy as much as her lightning quick wit that doubled us over. Oh, I miss her.
She always wanted to go on a trip together and even after being diagnosed with brain cancer, she continued to make plans. A few months after she died, her older sister, Mary Kay, asked to meet up with us. She presented a gift from Suzanne: a trip together of our choosing. Her only request was that we spread her ashes wherever we went.
She wanted to be spread all over the world and indeed she has been. After I returned from a Habitat trip to Fiji, I called up Mary Kay to tell her that some of Suzanne was now mingled in the waters of that island. What I did not know was that their father, Bill Beeby, was stationed in Fiji during WWII.
We decided Suzanne would want us "to go big or stay home" so in 2013, Pam, Mary, Annie and I traveled to Italy celebrating our decades of friendship. Sprinkling her ashes from a bridge overlooking a waterfall in Cinque Terre took my breath away. The ashes glistened in the sunlight as the updraft of the waterfall suspended them in the air. Wasn't that just like Suzanne?! Lingering in the limelight while delighting the crowd.
Thanks for that Mary , growing up with Suzanne was great . Not sure what year it was but she did a great reading of several pieces by Edgar Allan Poe at St. Luke's . Terrifying around a campfire. I lost touch after high school so good to know more about her life . I met Debbie Kippen in second grade and we were best friends to the end - again brain cancer. I need to write something to honor Kip , her and Suzanne (Sue) had an extraordinary zest and talent for the art of living and loving .
You stirred up new memories for me! Sue (To me she was either "Sue" or "Suzanne" because her mother always called her "Suzanne" but she introduced herself at school as "Sue." I think it was when she went off to the UW that she decided on "Suzanne."
Anyway, I remember Sue doing very well in the Speech Tournaments the Catholic Gradeschools organized. She read from Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" and stole the show. She recited it so often, she'd make fun of herself by emphasizing every word and sounding ridiculously melodramatic.
Yes, I heard that Kip fought brain cancer for years. It's heart-breaking to see such bright lights brought down by such a cruel disease. That's why I want to remember the way they lived their lives with such energy, creativity and compassion.
Mary Sullivan (DeLateur)
SUZANNE BEEBY OBITUARY
February 28, 1955 – February 6, 2011
Suzanne joined her daughter, Molly Larson, on their next great adventure, passing away peacefully at home after a valiant 4 year-battle with brain cancer. What an amazing woman, mom, sister, friend and colleague! She never lost her sense of humor OR her deep and abiding faith.
She touched many lives as an innovative and skillful occupational therapist in the Battle Ground and Kelso School Districts. With specialties in adaptive technology and autism, she developed programs that enabled kids to succeed beyond expectations. With a passion for service and a talent for building, she volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, homeless shelter programs, PTA activites and her kids' sporting events. She found her greatest joy in her childrfen.
She is survived by her son, Dan Larson; her dad, Bill; sister, Mary Kay (Dave); and brother, Brian (Jackee). She was preceded in in death by her daughter, Molly, and her mom, Pat.
A celebratioin of her life will be held on Saturday, February 26th, 2011 at Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Vancouver at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Mercy Corps, Save the Children or Doctors without Borders.
Mary Oaksmith (Nichols)
Suzanne sure lived the life of selfless service we should all strive for.Mary Sullivan (DeLateur)
Mary Sullivan (DeLateur)
Annie Robinson (Harkness)
This was the day we shaved her hair and then bought dancing shoes!!!!
Mary Sullivan (DeLateur)
Joyce Peterson (Mitchell)
What a beautiful tribute! ❤️
Janet Williams
Thanks for that Mary , growing up with Suzanne was great . Not sure what year it was but she did a great reading of several pieces by Edgar Allan Poe at St. Luke's . Terrifying around a campfire. I lost touch after high school so good to know more about her life . I met Debbie Kippen in second grade and we were best friends to the end - again brain cancer. I need to write something to honor Kip , her and Suzanne (Sue) had an extraordinary zest and talent for the art of living and loving .
Mary Sullivan (DeLateur)
Hi Janet,
You stirred up new memories for me! Sue (To me she was either "Sue" or "Suzanne" because her mother always called her "Suzanne" but she introduced herself at school as "Sue." I think it was when she went off to the UW that she decided on "Suzanne."
Anyway, I remember Sue doing very well in the Speech Tournaments the Catholic Gradeschools organized. She read from Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" and stole the show. She recited it so often, she'd make fun of herself by emphasizing every word and sounding ridiculously melodramatic.
Yes, I heard that Kip fought brain cancer for years. It's heart-breaking to see such bright lights brought down by such a cruel disease. That's why I want to remember the way they lived their lives with such energy, creativity and compassion.
See you soon,
Mary Sullivan DeLateur
Bill Romans