Susan Cordell Darrough Kanard

Susan Cordell Darrough Kanard, 81, of McAlester, passed away Friday, January 17, 2025 at St. John's Medical Center in Tulsa. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, January 23, at 2:00 pm at the S. Arch Thompson Auditorium, with Mother Janie Koch, from All Saints Episcopal Church, officiating.
Susan Kanard was born on December 5, 1943 in Tulsa to Forrest M. and Ruth (Cordell) Darrough. She grew up in Tulsa before moving to Houston, TX for her last two years of high school. It was this move to a new city at a formative age that ignited a passion for horses that would last throughout her life. After high school, she attended the University of Oklahoma, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in English. She then went to work at TV Guide magazine in Houston as an editor. During that time, she married Hailey Kanard on December 2, 1967. After supporting him through Optometry school, they settled in McAlester in October of 1971 a fortuitous move for our town.
Soon after arriving in southeastern Oklahoma and an ill fated stint as Hailey's secretary, she began what would turn out to be a long and tireless life of philanthropy. This included serving on the Board of many organizations, PAWS, PEO, Meals on Wheels, McAlester Youth Emergency Shelter, Southeast Okla. American Red Cross, the McAlester Planning Commission, McAlester Regional Health Center Board of Directors, Court Appointed Special Advocates for kids, the Mercy Clinic, and many other charities. In addition, Susan managed to be on the giving end of innumerable gifts, support, food, company, financial aid, and all around generosity for which she earnestly wished to remain anonymous, eschewing any accolades, save the difference made in other's lives.
While doing all of this, she managed to be the mother and mother figure for friends and strangers alike. Never was her dinner table full when company arrived unannounced. An outstanding cook, she kept scores of people well fed, up to and including her monday night informal dinner club for local elderly and infirm men who just kept showing up. Specialties of hers include rum cake, fried okra, chili, king ranch casserole, omelettes, and brisket. She also excelled at gardening, regularly planting more than 80 tomato plants with the sole purpose of sharing with others. A late August care package from Susan usually meant well preserved and delicious tomatoes were on the menu.
Furthermore, Susan cherished time with her family. She was a fixture at sporting events, PTA meetings, family vacations, weddings, graduations, momentous occasions, and the mundane. Maybe the best thing of all, though, was the fact that when she took you in, the line between friend and family disappeared.
Susan is survived by her husband, Dr. Hailey Kanard; Children and grandchildren, Roly Kanard and wife Sara, and Travis Kanard and his daughter, Bailee; a stepson, Keyton Payne and wife Gina, and their daughters, Stephanie, Megan, and Maris; and a brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Dana Darrough. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Forrest Darrough and his wife Julie, and many beloved pets.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to PAWS or be kind to a stranger, or better yet, both.
PAWS of McAlester at PO Box 76 McAlester, OK 74501