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Suzan Tarwater
Published 9/9/2010 in Obituaries
Suzan Tarwater, 54, of Princeton, N.J., died Monday, Aug. 23, 2010, at Princeton Medical Center following a two-year battle with cancer.
Mrs. Tarwater taught music in the Kansas public schools for 29 years, including at Wamego and Johnson City, and concluding with 23 years in Garden City where she received the Crystal Apple award for teaching excellence in 2001. In 2007, she became Dean of Students at The American Boychoir School in Princeton and continued to work there in special capacities during her illness.
During her years in Garden City, she served on the Board of Directors of the Choral Union and Symphony and the Southwest Kansas Arts and Humanities Board. She was a 4-H and Boy Scout volunteer and an active member of the Garden City Presbyterian Church as a youth group sponsor, ordained elder, and the director of music and choir director. Twenty years ago, she was instrumental in establishing the CASA program in the 25th Judicial District when she and her husband were foster parents. She was an advocate for children and students as a parent, foster parent, educator, church member, dean and friend. She also loved traveling, playing and experiencing music, KU and her family, friends and dogs.
Survivors include her husband of 32 years, Mark; her children, Mat of Garden City, Jenny of Wichita, and Michael and Brian of the home; her mother, Dorothy Hall; her grandmother, Trudy Tillner; and her sisters, Julie Oliver and Janice Arnold. She was preceded in death by her father, Jerry Hall.
A celebration of life memorial will be held in Princeton in October followed by a service at the Presbyterian Church in Garden City.
Contributions in her honor may be made to the Presbyterian Church or to the Suzan Tarwater Scholarship Fund at The American Boychoir School. For more information, contact the church.
Found 7 messages(s)!
Dorothy and family. I just talked to Trudy yesterday and she told me about Suzan. I am truly so so sorry to hear of your loss. I know words cannot take the pain away, but you are in my thoughts and prayers. Connie
Posted by: Connie Clark Simmon on 10/7/2010
Dear Mark and family,
I am so sorry to hear of Mrs. Tarwaters passing. She was a Awesome teacher and friend. I had her as a teacher in Johnson, for choir and guitar! She was always fun and I remember her constant smile. I had been looking for her to try and reconnect, sadly enough I didnt find her in time. I am so sorry for your loss!
Vicki Whaley Christenson
Posted by: Vicki Whaley Christenson on 9/27/2010
To the Tarwater Family:
Suzan will be missed greatly- Ashley had her for music at Charles Stones and Alex had her for Band. The kids loved her and she was a treasure. We are thinking of you in your time of loss- The Booker Family
Posted by: Scott, Joan, Ashley and Alex Booker on 9/17/2010
Special Lady
Dear Mark and family,
My prayers are with you at this sad time in your lives. Mrs. Tarwater was such a special teacher and has left a lasting mark on the hearts of so many of her students. I was one of her choir students at Johnson, KS in her early years of teaching. It sounds like her amazing talent and generous heart were far reaching. As an angel of God, she is always with you.
Peace and blessings,
Karen
Posted by: Karen Bluhm Bartz on 9/15/2010
I am so sorry to hear about Suzan's passing.
Dear Mark and family,
I am sad to hear of Suzan's passing. She was too young. Sincerely,
Joyce
Posted by: Joyce Manning on 9/13/2010
To the family, I am very sorry to here about Mrs. Tarwater. She was my music teacher many years ago and she was the best at what she did. However, God needed anther angel so he chose her to be with him.
Posted by: Lorena Madera on 9/10/2010
Jenny,I'm so sorry about your mom. If you need anything or just want to talk you can call me at 620 388-4451.
Posted by: Joy Schwartz on 9/9/2010