Susan Kaye "Suzy" Self

Susan Kaye (Suzy) Self, a resident of Pilot Point, Texas, passed away September 21, 2025. She was preceded in death by her husband Buford T (Big Tom) Self and her parents. Suzy was born November 14, 1942, in Lawton, Oklahoma to E. Frank Rush and Genelle Rush from Cache, Oklahoma and later of Carrollton, Texas. Suzy was the granddaughter of Frank S. Rush and May (Mamo) Rush of Cache, Oklahoma and Dilmus A. Walker and Maudie Smith Walker of Blair, Oklahoma.
Suzy succumbed to cancer after a courageous battle.
Suzy and Tom were married for 58 years before Tom's passing in 2020. They met at Craterville Park near Cache, Oklahoma. Suzy's grandparents and parents founded and operated Craterville Park, which was the family entertainment center of Southwest Oklahoma from 1923 until it closed in 1965. Tom's grandparents worked at Craterville Park, so Tom and Suzy spent much of their childhood together. Suzy graduated from Cache High School and Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. She was an accomplished rider and performed as "Sure Shot Annie Oakley" in the Rush family Wild West Show at Six Flags Over Texas in 1966 and 1967. Suzy and Tom were also co-owners of Sandy Lake Amusement Park from 1971 until the park was closed and the property sold in October of 2018. Suzy's parents, Frank and Genelle Rush (both now deceased), and her brother Frank and his wife Vickie Rush, were the other co-owners of the popular Carrollton fun spot for 48 successful seasons.
Suzy's primary park responsibility was the operation of FunFest. FunFest became, by far, the largest and longest-running privately owned school music competition in the nation. FunFest, held at Sandy Lake Amusement Park, hosted as many as 1,400 bands, choirs, and orchestras annually during the nine weeklong competitions. Suzy recently accepted the prestigious 2025 Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Contributor Award at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in San Antonio on behalf of the Sandy Lake Amusement Park family and FunFest.
Suzy is survived by their son Tom F Self, and his wife Annesa Self of Valley View, Texas; one grandson, TJ Self of Valley View; and her brother Frank Rush III and wife Vickie Rush of Frisco, Texas.
Tom F Self and Annesa, along with Suzy and Tom's nephew David Rush and his wife Tori Rush, their niece Jodi Rush Cuccurullo and her husband Frank Cuccurullo, plus the 5th generation amusement park family, including TJ Self, Whitney Rush Strong, and Taylor Cuccurullo, worked and lived at the family-owned park.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 10:30AM at Midway Church in Pilot Point, TX, with John Theisen officiating. Burial is pending. Online condolences may be shared at www.slaymemroialfuneralhome.com
Donations can be made to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cindy Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.