A New Chapter Begins

Saturday at 4:37p.m., you might have felt an earthquake that shook the entire earth. The epicenter was Heaven and it was caused by the celebration thrown welcoming Susan Lynne McCormick. The entire family was together last week as we said our good-byes and spent time telling her what an incredible impact she has had on our lives as well as so many others. Many local family & friends were able to stop by the hospice and share special times.

A special thanks to the Hopewell House for their kind hospitality and service. You made tough times less stressful. To Good Samaritan ICU & CCU. Your willingness to allow many more over the required visitors (from out of town) experienced quality time with Susan. Finally, Susan's wonderful staff of doctors. She chose to stay under the best care and believed it existed under each of you. Dr. Karamlou, your open honest feedback allowed Susan the brutal facts, but gave her peace of mind knowing exactly where things stood. She dealt with open honest feedback much better (good or bad).

Below is the obituary we just submitted to the Oregonian (publishes Wednesday), Tigard Times (publishes Thursday) and the Los Altos Town Crier (publishes Thursday). Thank you all for your kind words of support. We plan to have the celebration service for Susan on either April 16th/17th or 23rd/24th and will post on the blog within the week. Service will most likely take place at West Valley Community Church in Hillsboro. (Her home church)


Portland-Oregon
Susan Lynne McCormick, whose love of children motivated her to change careers at age 37 and become a sixth grade teacher in Tigard, OR, ended a long battle with lung, pancreatic and liver cancer on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at the Portland Hopewell House Hospice. She was 52 years young.

The eldest of four siblings and daughter of Mike & Carolyn McCormick, Susan was a devote Christian and very involved in her church (West Valley Community Church in Hillsboro Oregon). She held the role of treasurer for many years and played key roles in West Valley's "Crew" productions. Susan lived a life of authenticity having been transformed through her relationship with Jesus. Because of that authentic transformed life Susan made a major impact in the lives of so many that knew her. She led by example and communicated her love of Christ to anyone who found interest and listened.

After 15 years of working in the mortgage banking industry, Susan's love for children motivated her to begin a new chapter at age 37 when she completed her bachelor and master's degree in education from Portland State in 2000 and began teaching 6th grade at Fowler middle school in Tigard, Oregon. Her passion was educating children and was well known for going out of her way to help any child who had missed a meal or needed a hug.

Susan viewed teaching children as a 24 hr. responsibility and many Fowler alumni would come back and see Ms. McCormick on a regular basis. She spearheaded the spelling bee contest for Fowler middle school and even participated herself in the 50+ AARP national spelling bee contest in Cheyenne, Wyoming during the summer of 2008. Susan also spent summers as a driver's ed instructor and enjoyed the additional time with the kids.

Born in Alhambra California, Susan lived in Manhattan New York while her father pitched for the New York Giants. After moving west at the end of the 1958 season, Susan grew up in San Mateo California and moved to Mtn.View California in 1966. Susan attended Cooper and Huff Elementary schools, Graham Jr. High and graduated from Awalt High School in 1974. Susan graduated from De Anza College with an A.A. and pursued law enforcement with the Palo Alto police department, but an injury forced Susan to pursue another career which led her into the banking and mortgage industry in the 80's and early 90's before making a career change and pursuing her passion of educating children.

Susan never gave up hope when diagnosed in 2008 with lung and pancreatic cancer, a concept taught by her father, with cancer throughout her body, she was determined to fight it with every ounce of energy. It took almost 18 months from the time she was diagnosed to when she passed away for this dreaded disease to take hold. Her 53rd birthday is March 19th and she did her absolute best to make it to that day.

She leaves behind her beloved Corbett (11 yr old black lab) and a family that adored her. Father Mike, mother Carolyn, step mother Dierdre, sisters Stacy and Tara, brothers Mike Jr. and Matt, sister in-laws: Judith and Kathy, brother in-law: Michael Moeller, nephews: Michael III & Ryan, nieces Kelli, Madison, Mallory and Meghan.

Services for Susan McCormick will occur at West Valley Community Church in Hillsboro, Oregon at a determined date in April, 2010. Susan elected to be cremated at Rose City.

Thank you Susan for giving us all 52 wonderful years of happy memories. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

West Valley Community Church 5215 NE Elam Young Parkway Hillsboro, OR 97124 c/o Susan L McCormick
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