Susan Yonkers

Susan McCurdy Yonkers, Prolific Artist, Book Lover, and Avid Gardener, Dies at 76

Described as a "vibrant force of life," she was well-loved and will be missed by many.

Born in Baltimore, Susan was an artist from the very beginning. Every Saturday starting in first grade, she attended Maryland Institute College of Art, studying painting under E. Carey Kenny and Leonard Bahr, and participating in various art shows all over Maryland. Continuing on as an undergraduate at MICA, Susan really learned to "see" as an artist and to love the use of color from people like Abbie Sangiamo, Sharon Yates, Reba Stewart, and Sam Gilliam.

After graduating, getting married, and raising her children in New Canaan, CT and later back in Baltimore, she was still drawing, but mostly using her artistic talents to create gardens. As a devoted member of numerous garden clubs, she was the past president of the Green Thumb Garden Club and former Board Secretary and Treasurer of the Guilford Garden Club in Baltimore. Her gardens and homes were featured in several publications including Style Magazine and Baltimore Magazine.



She was on the board of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House and a long-time member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Susan adored books and was a voracious reader. In the 1990s, she and her husband Bill owned the Bookshop at Stevenson Village in Stevenson, MD. The shop was chosen "Baltimore's Best Gardening Books" by Baltimore Magazine in 1996.

Everywhere they lived, Susan and Bill planted gardens. This interest took them on many trips to England and throughout Europe, inspiring Susan to get back to painting; starting out with her own garden as her subject, but soon returning to her first love-people.

In 2011, Susan won the People's Choice award at A Celebration of Art at Cylburn Arboretum. In 2012 she won both the Cylburn Arboretum Association Board Award and the Graul's Award for her paintings in A Celebration of Art at Cylburn.  In the fall of 2014, Susan had two solo shows: People and Places at the Vollmer Center, and Art Under the Spire in Baltimore at First and Franklin.  Susan has shown her work at Baltimore's Y:ART gallery, and DISTRICT Arts in Frederick.

On July 24, 2025, Susan McCurdy Yonkers passed away due to complications of ovarian cancer; she was 76 years-old.

The daughter of the late Robert and Doris McCurdy of Baltimore, Susan is survived by her husband Billy, her children Willy Yonkers and Amanda Atkins, her son-in-law Josh Atkins, and beloved grandson Henry.

A celebration of life will be held at the Women's Club of Roland Park, date to be determined for the fall of 2025. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

The Women's Club of Roland Park

4500 Roland Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21210