In fond memories of Susan (Sue) Marie Summers: 1947-2021

Susan (Sue) Marie Summers died on December 6, 2021 in Vancouver, Washington, as a result of COVID-19. Sue was born on March 20, 1947 in Seattle, Washington, to Oscar and Elva Westford.

Raised in north Seattle, she graduated from the then recently opened Nathan Hale High School. One of her high school highlights was playing the violin with the Seattle All-City Orchestra in 1965. She attended Shoreline Community College and Western Washington State College (now University) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish.

After initially serving as a substitute teacher, Sue found a full-time job teaching Spanish and English at Battle Ground High School. Although she had never heard of Battle Ground before moving there in 1970, she would call it home for the rest of her life. At BGHS, Sue met a Seattle math teacher, Dean Summers, and the two soon began dating. Dean and Sue were married in 1975. Five years later, when their daughter Kate was born, Sue left her teaching career to stay at home. The family welcomed two more children, Scott (1982) and Julie (1988).

When the children were older, Sue began singing again part-time and teaching a Spanish course for homeschool students. Sue’s Christian faith was at the center of her life. She was a longtime member of the Battle Ground Baptist Church and served in several ministries, including serving as a women’s ministry director, during her many years there.

Another important aspect of her life was her Icelandic heritage. Her paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from Iceland in the late 19th century, and she remembered her father speaking Icelandic with his parents and siblings. In 2015 Sue traveled to Iceland and got to know old family farms.

Sue had a variety of hobbies over the years, from selling discovery toys to quilting. More recently, she has been drawn to memoir writing. Last year she self-published two collections of personal essays. Sue was a cat lover and has had many beloved cats over the years. She also enjoyed spending time in the family’s vacation home on Lopez Island.

Sue is survived by her husband Dean; Children Kate, Scott and Julie (Jan Kowalewski); and the younger sisters Cindy Novion and Jan Germann. The funeral home is Layne’s Funeral Home, and a memorial service will be held at the Battle Ground Baptist Church on March 19, 2022.