Susan Ross

Susan Jane Ross, 79, Tonganoxie KS, passed away November 5th, 2024. She was born December 9, 1944, in Kansas City, Kansas.

Susy was a perfectionist and would put every effort she could into excelling at whatever project she set her mind to. She was a decorated muzzleloader, winning state championships in both Kansas and Missouri. She was a founding member of the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society. Her dedication to history, research, and spreading knowledge enabled her to take the lead as their first director and curator, though she constantly downplayed the tremendous amount of work and talent that she contributed in that position.

She spent much of her time crafting with her hands: beading and doing quillwork. She was a progressive thinker and an avid reader-constantly looking for the meaning of life, to refine her spiritual beliefs, to explore, question, and think independently.

She loved a good argument, though would quibble with the use of that word, preferring the term ‘discussion.’ Her friends and family would come to her house, ready or seeking out an, in any other environment, contentious debate, from philosophy to politics to spirituality to morality to whatever latest health trend she had picked up in between visits. She, appropriately, had dubbed herself ‘Talks-a-Lot-Woman’ and did not let her family forget it.

Susy greatly loved her ever-extending family: her husband, her children, her grandchildren, and all ‘bonus family’ members that were added through choice and love rather than by blood.

She cherished her childhood and especially her family's summers in Mayday, Colorado. She eventually crafted many ‘Silly Sue’ stories, recounting and enriching the events from her childhood into humorous fables that she gifted to her children and grandchildren so that they too could picture her in red cowboy boots and a big red hat that sunk down below her nose or playing with a stick horse named Butternut.

She was accepting of anyone and everyone from all walks of life. She was giving. She was humble. She was all of ours.

A celebration of life is currently planned for June 14, 2025. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Tonganoxie Combmunity Historical Society.