Susan Elizabeth Hill Custer, a passionate educator and talented writer, died Sunday February 8, 2015. Susan’s devoted career in education began when she taught English, Spanish and pre-school around Payne County in the mid-1970’s. She then joined the Oklahoma Technical Assistance Center in Cushing where she provided professional development for thousands of Oklahoma teachers and worked to improve teaching and learning in programs for high-risk students.
In 1995, she was asked by the First Lady of Oklahoma to write a poem honoring the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. “The Children” was read at the memorial service broadcast nationwide. She also wrote and produced a monthly newsletter distributed to alternative education program directors across the state.
Susan was born in Tulsa in 1950 to Johnson D. Hill, Jr. and Elizabeth Jones Hill. After graduating from Edison High School, Susan attended Oklahoma State University and was a member of the Tri Delta women’s fraternity. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English and went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instructional Education.
Susan lived in Cushing for over 30 years and was active in the First United Methodist Church and volunteered with the Hillcrest Hospital Cushing Auxiliary. She loved gardening, cooking and Oklahoma State athletics. She enjoyed being outdoors and excelled in witty banter and wordplay.
After retiring, she recently moved back to Tulsa to be near her family.
Susan is survived by her son, J. W. Custer and his wife Courtney Bru of Tulsa, her daughter Sara K. Custer of London, England, her brother Stephen D. Hill of Oceanside, CA, her sister Lucinda (Cinda) H. Benton and her husband Gary of Sand Springs, OK and one nephew and three nieces.
Funeral services will be Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in the St. John’s Episcopal Church, 4200 S. Atlanta Place Tulsa. Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa.
The family will greet friends on Wednesday evening, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Floyd Family Center.
You may share your condolences with the Custer family at www.davisfh.net.
