Our beloved Susan went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, March 15, 2007 after a courageous battle with cancer. Susan was the daughter of Bruce and Cherie Miller and was born on March 31, 1952 in McMinnville, OR.

She moved frequently during her childhood and attended grade schools and high schools in Anchorage, AK, Kent, WA, and Burlington, WA. Susan graduated from Burlington-Edison High School (1970) and the University of Washington (1974).

She had a love for music and had numerous private students that she taught piano, guitar, voice and various other instruments to over the past 25 years. She also had been a music educator at Mount Vernon Christian School during her career teaching Kindergarten through 12th graders voice, music theory, and all instruments in the orchestra. Susan loved teaching children whether in music, art or the Bible.

Susan was the founder and director of Carry the Light Ministries, a non-profit organization focused on music and the arts amongst the other charitable activities in the community that impacted many. For ten years she was the director of Child Evangelism Fellowship for Skagit, Island, and San Juan Counties. She was undoubtedly a very outgoing, talented and driven woman. Susan had also recently discovered water color painting in the past few years and had held several private showings of her works in her private studio. She was also a certified Medical Transcriptionist for several local medical practitioners in the Skagit Valley.

Her favorite pastime, however, was to spend time with her family and friends at the numerous beaches in the area. She loved hiking the trails and collecting seashells around Samish Island as a memory of her day. Her other hobby was riding her bicycle for exercise at the various parks in the county. She was a devoted mother, daughter, and sister who will be greatly missed by her friends and family.

Susan was preceded in death by her father, Bruce Miller. She is survived by her mother, Cherie Miller Freeman; stepfather Bud Freeman; 3 children: Dustin (& Lisa) DeVries of Montgomery, Texas; Devon (& Becki) DeVries of Freeland, WA; Darby DeVries of Corpus Christi, TX; grandchild Reegan DeVries (daughter of Devon and Becki); sister Shawn Nyman; brother Greg (& Teresa) Miller; aunts: Gladys Lee, Winnie Martin and June Shepherd; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would also like to give special thanks to the Doctors, Nurses and Staff at the Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center in Mt. Vernon and the Skagit Valley Hospice Nurses and Staff. All are special people who cared dearly for Susan.

A private family graveside service will be held on Wednesday, March 21st at Hawthorne Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Mt. Vernon. Condolences to the family may be sent to Cherie Freeman, 15822 McLean Rd., Mt.Vernon, WA 98273. Memorials in Susan's name are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 728 134th St. S.W., Suite 101, Everett, WA 98204 or to Skagit Valley Hospice, P.O. Box 1376, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273.

Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Mt. Vernon, WA. You may share your memories of Susan, and sign her online guest register at www.hawthornefh.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Skagit Valley Herald on Mar. 19, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Susan Devries

20 Entries

Mike Suewing

March 31, 2007

I have fond memories of Susan from my high school years. She was the mother of one of my closest friends, an employer and a mentor. One of the first memories that pops into my head is leading a 5-day club with Susan at La Paloma in MV and trying to communicate with those rambunctious children in a mix of Spanish & English. She proved that investing in the training of young people for God's work with Children was a priority. As high schoolers, we never really new what sort of family expectations Susan would have for the DeVries household, so she kept us on our toes, but we could tell that she really loved and cared for her family.

Susan, I am glad that you are in the presence of Jesus yet I grieve with your family who is separated from you for a while.

Bryan and Barbara Sakuma

March 29, 2007

Susan spent many hours as a band and choir director and later privately tutoring my children. we adored her in so many ways. What a special woman! What a hole is leaves in this world- but what beauty she is now living in heaven.

Suzanne Hadley

March 23, 2007

I am so sorry for your loss and my own. Susan had such an impact on my spiritual life and that of my siblings through CTL. My life would not be the same without that experience or her loving encouragement. We exchanged e-mails toward the end of last year, and her faith and love for the Savior were strong to the end. Susan will have many eternal rewards. We loved her. Cherie, Dustin, Devon and Darby, you are in our prayers.

Glenda Kok

March 23, 2007

To Susan's family: I am so sorry for your loss. I worked in the office at MVCS during the years Susan taught there and I appreciated her very much. She brought great things to the music program and the concerts were always so enjoyable. May God comfort you and give you strength in this time of grief.

Kristine Gugel

March 22, 2007

To all of Susan's precious extended family,
Susan loved you all so deeply. You all were her greatest love and joy in life next to Jesus. She lives without a veil with Him now for which I am so thankful. She has been a dear friend since high school and I will miss her in this life very much. It is the truth and not just a compliment to say she was a servant and truly a giver.
"Thank you Susan, for giving to the Lord, I am a life that was changed....."
And thank you family because you were all a part of who this beautiful lady was and is still today. We can all treasure the memories and allow how Jesus shown through her to continue to touch us.
In loving and grateful memory of a treasure of a friend.

Jake & Pam Nyman

March 22, 2007

You have been an instrumental piece in my life and have always encouraged me in my walk with the Lord. Thank you Aunt for your kindness and gentleness and the wonderful memories I will have of you for eternity. You will be missed and are loved very much.

Trudy Kuipers

March 20, 2007

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I knew Mrs. DeVries from MVCS, and she was a wonderful lady and will be missed dearly. We enjoyed her cheerfulness and smile.
The Kuipers Family

Steve Lee

March 20, 2007

I last spoke to Susan in December. She was upbeat and positive, as I think she always was. I remember her talent, her warmth and most of all her devotion to her children. Among my fondest memories are holidays at our grandparents and summers at Samish Island.

Susan, you always called me Cousin.

Cousin, I wish you peace.

Nate Simmons

March 20, 2007

I attended grade school and high school with Susan and remember her as a very intelligent and talented person. She was always upbeat and willing to help out. Although I had not seen Susan much over the years since school, I always enjoyed visiting with her at reunion time.

Susan will be missed by many, and my thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family at this sad time.

Karen Eilers

March 19, 2007

Dear Susan,
We were amazed by your enthusiasm for life, your energy, and the love you showed to your students. We were looking forward to more classes with you; but we will relish our past with you and praise the Lord for your life. We are among the fortunate that had the priviledge of being blessed by you. My dear Carly misses you so much already and we have shed many tears in the last week knowing that you will no longer be a part of our earthly lives. But our hope is in the Lord and we will meet you again, Susan, in the light of our Lord! I imagine you are already busy up there blessing them with your beautiful music! Give my Mom a hug for me...

You are missed,
The Eilers Family
Tim, Karen, Carly, Claire & Tim

Judy (Lesage) Smart

March 19, 2007

My heart goes out to you at this time and in the days ahead. May your memories of Susan bring you comfort. Susan and I were roommates in 73 while she was attending the UW and I was working a the College of Education. We had many fun times and laughed alot. She will truly be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love in Christ,
Judy (Lesage)Smart

Wendy Heino

March 19, 2007

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Kathi Vandergriff

March 19, 2007

Sister Shawn and the rest of Susan's family. I pray for Peace and Comfort in your time of grief for I know what you are going through. My only thoughts to you are to remember the good times and relish on those fond memories. Susan is free! Free from pain and spending slendid time with her Dad. In HIS Love, a friend.

Amy and Kassy Needham

March 19, 2007

Dearest Susan,
Kassy wanted me to let you know that the bright stars that we see in the sky are the porch lights of heaven. So just turn your porch light on when you get home.

Shegay VanderpoolPO

March 19, 2007

To the Family of Susan, I was shocked to hear this news. I have known Susan for many years now and was so touched by her life. Susan was so instumental in helping our daughter Shaye through her ministry with Carry the Light and she was truly used of the Lord. My thouhts and prayers are with you, especially Darby, Devon and Dustin. Shegay Vanderpool

Shawn

March 19, 2007

Dear Sister. If I could find a way to bring you home, I would. But the Lord has called you to be with Dad and he needed the company. I will miss our love, our laughter and our friendship. Some day I will join you and we'll celebrate. Watch for me. I'll have on the bright red lipstick.

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