Susan Margaret Longhurst

On July 4th, 2020 the we lost a gentle and caring woman who shone a light in the world and touched so many with her love. Only the memories of what a special person she was and the joy she brought can help her family and friends through the sadness we feel at her passing. Susan was born in Couer...  see more On July 4th, 2020 the we lost a gentle and caring woman who shone a light in the world and touched so many with her love. Only the memories of what a special person she was and the joy she brought can help her family and friends through the sadness we feel at her passing. Susan was born in Couer d’Alene Idaho to Margaret and Milton Hoffman. She grew up in Portland and graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Her working life was dedicated to educating and enriching the lives of young children as well as training and encouraging adults who cared for them. She taught and was a supervisor for Southern Oregon Headstart for many years. In the later years of her career she concentrated on training others to be the kind of teacher she was; knowledgeable, creative, gentle, and loving. She touched many hundreds of lives, children and adults, and made a huge difference in their lives. While at Portland State she met Gordon Longhurst and they shared a life together for 52 years. They married in 1974 and their first child, daughter Jesse Moon, was born in 1975. Their son Noah Sky was born in 1980. They followed their dream of building a life in the country, homesteading land outside of Grants Pass in 1976, where they built a home and created a special place where they could enjoy the natural world and grow healthy food to nourish their family. Susan was one of the founders of the Growers’ Market in Grants Pass, helping it through the difficult early years so that it could grow to be the flourishing success it is today. Susan loved the natural world, from trees to birds and bugs to flowers. She was never happier than when she was hiking in the woods or playing on the beach, especially with her family. she brought her love of the natural world other work as an educator and was a pioneer and influential advocate for getting young children outside to experience the wonders of nature. Susan was a nurturer in everything she did. An accomplished cook and a fantastic gardener she delighted in growing healthy food and beautiful flowers. She was always happiest if she was doing something that would bring happiness another and could always be counted on when someone needed help and compassion. Susan loved her children fiercely and raised them to be strong and loving people with the knowledge and values she taught them. When her grandchildren arrived she got a second chance to share her endless love, delighting in art projects, cooking camping trips and exploring the world together. In 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Over the next five years she dealt with her disease with strength and determination and continued to live her life to the fullest. During that time she and Gordon moved to Ashland where she was closer daughter Jesse’s family and so able to spend more time with the grandchildren.She and Gordon continued to travel, which was another of her favorite things, making trips to Ireland and England, Quebec, and many trips in the Northwest. She was still cooking and gardening and helping others right up until the sudden final crisis that took her life. She faced that crisis with the same bravery and strength she’s shown for five years, worrying about her family more than herself to the end. Susan is survived by her husband Gordon, daughter Jesse, son Noah, grandchildren Max and Vera, her mother Margaret, sister Jayne , and brother Milton and nieces, nephews and many friends. A celebration of Susan’s life will occur when arrangements can made to hold it safely. Please contact Gordon at gordon@ budget.net if you’d like to be notified when it will occur. Please add your memories of Susan on this site. A scholarship will be established at Rogue Community College to assist students studying Early Childhood Education Donations in Susan’s name can be made to The Family Nurturing Center https://familynurturingcenter.org/donate/