McGuffey, Susan Carol Stokke 

Susan Carol Stokke McGuffey passed peacefully from this life on Sunday, September 3, 2006, 
in Galveston. She died in the arms of her loving husband, Patrick. Susan was a woman endowed 
with a profound and ennobling sense of selflessness that was evident in the many kind and 
thoughtful acts that characterized her life. Susan was born October 26, 1947, in Seattle, 
Washington, to Carl and Ruth Stokke. She was the oldest of three children and a second 
generation Norwegian-American. She grew up in Seattle, Washington and graduated from 
Shoreline High School in 1965. By 1971, Susan had moved to Longview, and settled into a job 
with Owl-flex, Inc., located in Kilgore. She did accounting for the firm until its closing 
in 1989. During these years, Susan grew to be a mature and respected woman and acquired many 
friends. She attended Kilgore College and graduated from The University of Texas at Tyler 
with a bachelor of business administration degree in 1986. In 1976, Susan became involved 
with a dedicated core of individuals determined to raise funds to build a proper shelter for 
the area's injured and unwanted animals. The group succeeded admirably after many years of 
fund-raising, finally establishing The Humane Society of Gregg County, currently, The Humane 
Society of North Texas, in a new facility at 303 Enterprise Street in Longview. Susan served 
on the board, including a stint as president, for many years. It was both a gratifying and 
seminal experience for Susan. During these years, she met and married Patrick McGuffey, her 
partner for life. With HSGC successfully functioning, Susan became a tutor with the newly 
created East Texas Literacy Council, whose goal was teaching fundamental literacy to adults. 
She delighted in her students' progress and continued in this until her husband took a job 
transfer to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1994. Shortly thereafter, Susan was diagnosed with breast 
cancer, but rather than fall into a dolorous self pity, she chose to become a volunteer "sitter" 
at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Her singular responsibility was to offer nurture and solace to 
the children, many with horrible deformities and short life expectancies. She had to become 
mother to the motherless and to offer the only loving press of human flesh that some would ever 
know, as many would never leave ACH. Requiring great love, fortitude and tears, it was a duty 
Susan never regarded as a sad endurance, but rather a gift of her humanity, a duty she never 
shirked. For that, she was much loved in return. During that time Susan discovered quilting, a 
challenge that provided enjoyment and distraction to the last days of her life. In early 1998, 
another job opportunity brought Susan and Patrick to Galveston. Their new home opened up a new 
life. By happenstance, Susan volunteered for the Fall Adopt-A-Beach cleanup in an estuary that 
Scenic Galveston, a regional conservation service organization, had undertaken to restore. The 
group's work became a passion for Susan and her efforts earned her a place on the executive 
board from 1999 to the present. Further recognition by Scenic Galveston came when they named a 
parcel of wetlands the Susan McGuffey Children's Marsh in 2003. Susan's love of plants and 
nature inspired her to get a master gardener certification. She became a member of the Galveston 
Garden Club in 1999. She held the office of treasurer from then to the present. Susan loved the 
natural history of Galveston Bay and the upper Texas coast. She devoted countless hours of her 
life to its preservation. Susan's love of children manifested itself in the special love and 
devotion she lavished on her nephew and niece, David and Rachel Klapper. She spent nearly every 
vacation in Kentucky to be with them during their growing years. She made an inestimable impact 
on their lives. Susan also had much affection for her "little sister," Brittany Lee. Susan and 
Brittany were matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters Gulf Coast Inc. in 1998. Susan had always 
wanted to mentor a young girl. Their eight years together forged a strong bond that endures today. 
Susan's unwavering commitment to the program was recognized when the Daily News of Galveston County 
honored her with one of its Unsung Hero Awards in 2004. Susan accepted with her typical self 
effacing gratitude. Many in Galveston knew Susan from H&R Block on Fort Crockett, where she began 
as a tax preparer in 1999. She managed that office from 2001-2005, and in that time, she enjoyed 
close and abiding friendships with co-workers. She always anticipated the camaraderie and challenges 
of each new tax season. Susan always sought a way of loving the world with a quality of spirit that 
was superior to any circumstance of calamity or misfortune. She lived life with a quiet dignity and 
stoic good nature. She listened to all and was always a friend to all, people and creatures alike. 
Susan and Patrick had recently become members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Galveston 
and were anticipating new friendships. Susan is survived by her devoted husband, Patrick, whose life 
was so inextricably bound to hers through deep affection and shared interests, it was rare to find 
them apart. She is also survived by her sister, Patricia and husband, Phillip Klapper, M.D., of 
Murray, Kentucky; brother, Jeffery Stokke and wife, Stacie, of Seattle, Washington; nephew, David 
Klapper of Lexington, Kentucky; niece, Rachel Klapper of Murray; stepdaughter, Christina McGuffey 
Ogden and husband, Anthony, of Longview; "little sister," Brittany Lee of Galveston; and her two 
cats, Abbey and Bella. The family will receive visitors after 6 p.m. Friday evening, September 8, 
2006. at Malloy & Son Funeral Home in Galveston. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Honorary 
pallbearers will be Lowell Martin, Ronnie and Pat McDaniel, and Lee and Kay Pigeon, all from the 
Longview area; and Elbert and Evangeline Whorton, Gregg and Lalise Mason, Valerie Jackson, Eleanor 
Childs, Mark Muhich, Ina Denton, Silvia Vela, and Tracy Nicar, from the Galveston area. The family 
would like to thank Dr. Frankie Ann Holmes and staff at Texas Oncology, and all the wonderful 
friends whose thoughts and deeds eased Susan's last days. Memorial contributions may be made to 
Big Brothers Big Sisters Gulf Coast, Inc.; the Galveston Garden Club; Hospice Care Team, Inc.; or 
any environmental group of your choice.

Published in the Longview News-Journal from 9/7/2006 - 9/8/2006.