Susan Kevin

1945 - 2016

Susan Kevin

Susan Kevin, 70, a longtime resident of Mercer Island, WA passed away at her home on April 7, 2016.

She was preceded in death by her father James Martin, her mother Margaret Thorn Martin, her husband Ernie, her sister Jennifer Gorham and three of her beloved standard poodles - Perry, Riley and Max. She is survived by her sister Cynthia Farr & husband Keith, her niece Lara Feagins-McGhee, her nephews Michael and Tony Gorham, her great-niece Britni Sheffield, her goddaughter Jayme Marrs Castle, and Mariah, her award-winning poodle.

Susan was born August 23, 1945 in Boise, Idaho. She grew up in Texas. After graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in business Susan became a flight attendant and then taught school. Having saved enough money during her early working years she quit her job to sail the Caribbean and to backpack around Europe and Russia.

Susan knew that she wanted to live near the ocean and the mountains on either the East or West Coast. Before the age of the Internet and Google, she did extensive research on possible places that met her desire. She decided to explore the West Coast first, fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and moved to Seattle without a job. She quickly found a job with IBM where she eventually met and married Ernie. Susan and Ernie spent several years working for IBM offices in Seattle, Hong Kong & Beijing. During her time in China Susan took language lessons becoming fluent in Mandarin. While working in China Susan and Ernie travelled extensively to Tibet, Japan, Korea, Australia, Thailand and Africa to name just a few places.

Taking early retirement from IBM, Susan and her husband did volunteer work and attended an immersion language school in Guatemala. With their first poodle Perry they then spent two years sailing along the coast of North America, throughout the Caribbean and eventually reaching South America.

Returning home to Mercer Island, Susan became heavily involved in dog shows, agility, obedience and K9 nose work, a passion she had developed since she trained her first dog at the age of six. Susan and her dogs won many awards. As a founding member of the Puget Sound Poodle Club she organized a highly successful agility trial.

Always active Susan also took time to hike & ski in the mountains around Seattle and at Big White, Canada, as well as such faraway places as Japan. Susan loved to ski and continued to do so until recently.

A strong and independent woman, Susan lived an active, healthy lifestyle. She was always ready for the next adventure. She was loved by her family and friends. She will be truly missed. Memorials may be sent to Old Dog Haven.