Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Susan's Obituary

The following was published today, 12/10/2008, in both The Arizona Republic and the East Valley Tribune:

Susan Marie Mortensen Turley, 25, of Mesa passed away on December 5, 2008 after a courageous battle with cancer. Susan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and grew up in Tempe, Arizona where she graduated from Corona del Sol High School. She participated in the Tempe Sister Cities exchange program and spent a summer in Skopje, Macedonia. She was an accomplished athlete who won honors competing in cross country and track, and was recognized as the school's student athlete of the year in 2001. She continued her academic and athletic career at the University of Arizona, where she competed in cross country and track while earning her Bachelor's degree in Family Studies and Human Development. She pursued a career in marketing at MediServe. Throughout her life, Susan actively sought opportunities for service, whether to those she knew closely or others she did not know. She was a champion of inclusion and reaching out to make others feel blessed and loved. She loved meeting new friends, and those who were close to her were continually amazed at the number of friends she had in numerous cities where she travelled. Susan touched the life of each person she met at home and around the world. She possessed a cheerful spirit and contagious smile, even in the midst of her recent illness. We will always remember her example and the impact of her kindness on our lives. She is survived by her husband Justin Turley, parents Bruce and Janet Mortensen, brothers Zach, Sam, Mike, and David, Norwegian brother Fredrik Oygard, Macedonian sister Biljana Tashevska, and grandparents Gale Mortensen, James Rein, and Norma Jean Rein. She was preceded in death by her sister Elizabeth J. Mortensen and her grandmother Nellie Bushman Mortensen. Services remembering her life and her faith will be held on Wednesday, December 10th at 11:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Tempe South Stake Center located at 1111 E. Knox Rd, Tempe, AZ. There will be a viewing at the same location on Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, and again on Wednesday at 9:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, Susan asked that donations be directed to a foundation to be established in her name to assist cancer patients who cannot afford the treatment she was blessed to receive. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo branch to account number 2017305018.

8 comments:

Brittany said...

That was BEAUTIFUL.

thearringtonclan said...

Dear Justin
Just wanted to say how sad we were to not be able to come to the funeral as Mathew is just not up to being in crowds at the moment BUT know you are in our thoughts and Prayers and will continue to be as time goes by. We will never forget Susan and look forward to the day when we can see her and give her a hug and offer our thanks for her support she gave to us.
We wish you peace and comfort in the days to come. May your spirit be lifted as you continue to be surrounded by loving family and friends..
Take care friend
Maxine and Mathew

Lacie said...

I am grateful I got to meet Susan I would like to extend my deepest sympathies for your loss. I will keep your family in my thoughts today and in the days ahead.

Lacie said...

I will be thinking of your family today. I am Amber
Mortensen's sister.

Unknown said...

What an amazing girl! She will be missed. We send our thoughts and love to all of the family.

Unknown said...

What an amazing girl! She will be missed. We send our thoughts and love to your family.

Unknown said...

Justin,
We ahven't met you but we are Jill
Thomas's parents. We have watched Susan grow up over the years have admired her and her family. We have been looking at all the pictures and just can't believe her beautiful smile. We will all miss her and our thoughts and prayers are with you and the Mortensen family. We wish we could have been at the funeral.
Love,
The Christensens

Brooke Hunt (aka Mr. Burns) said...

Justin- I wish we could have attended Susnas funeral to pay tribute to the beautiful life she lived! I apologize we have lost touch nd had no idea she was sufferinf until monday when we read Kempes facebook post to notify us of the funeral. I stayed up and read the entire blog til 23oam and truly felt a love for her. Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this time... remember this... Heavenly Father can make weak things become strong. Thank you for sharing her story. It has blessed us! Brooke Hunt