Sue KERSCHEN

1958 - 2024

Sue Kerschen, 66, passed away peacefully due to cancer on September 27, 2024, in her home in Colbert, Washington. She leaves behind a multitude of family and friends to grieve her loss.

Rhonda Susan McPhail was born on August 4, 1958, in Goldsboro, North Carolina, to Jarvis Scott and Patricia Rose (Langston) McPhail.

Sue is survived by her husband of 42 years, Mike Kerschen; sons, Matthew of Olympia, WA, and Jackson (Hailey) of Spokane, WA; daughter, Katherine Kerschen (Pascal Doering) of St. Louis, MO; and two granddaughters, Michaela Doering and Penelope Kerschen, all of whom were the loves of her life.

Additional survivors include her sister, Donna Yacout (Abdu); and brother, Duncan McPhail of Raleigh, NC; six sisters-in-law; five brothers-in-law; 19 nieces and nephews; 24 grandnieces and grandnephews; and countless friends. Sue was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Randall McPhail; three nephews; and one grandnephew.

Sue graduated from North Carolina State University in 1980 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. She met Mike while both were working for Union Carbide outside of New Orleans, LA. They were married in Louisiana in 1982. When Mike's job prompted a move to Moses Lake, WA, in 1987, Sue decided to focus her considerable energies on child-rearing and volunteer work. Further moves followed, first to Butte, MT, in 1997, and then to their current home in Colbert in 1999.

Sue was always an active participant in her children's education, from the Big Bend Cooperative Preschool in Moses Lake to St. George's School in Spokane. In addition, she was a dedicated volunteer and leader of too many activities to recount, always centered around her Catholic faith (she joined the Church in 1991) and support of women and families. In recent years, she spent a great deal of time offering individual ministry to people dealing with illness and other hardships, providing a listening ear and gentle companionship.

Sue was well-known for her parties and dinners, usually themed and most often lubricated by one of "Sue's Signature Cocktails." Her home was always decorated for every season, and all visitors were welcomed with a personal note on her Chef Piglet chalkboard. Her lively disposition, kind heart, and generous counsel will be missed by family, friends, and neighbors from the East Coast to the Gulf Coast to the West Coast. A life well lived, sadly cut way too short.

A funeral vigil and rosary will be held on Friday, October 18, at 7pm, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Colbert, WA. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the same location on Saturday, October 19, at 11am, followed by a luncheon reception. Both the vigil and funeral services will be live streamed at https://stjosephcolbert.org/. A private committal ceremony will be held that day at 2:30pm at Holy Cross Cemetery in Spokane.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to any of the following organizations.

• Catholic Charities of Spokane https://www.cceasternwa.org/

• Project Beauty Share https://projectbeautyshare.org/

• Caring Bridge https://www.caringbridge.org/

• Basset Rescue https://www.wabr.net/home.html