Obituary of Susan Jean Galloway

July 18, 1932 – Great Falls, Montana, United States

 August 12, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Susan passed away peacefully, just before sunrise with loving family by her side, on Monday, August 12, 2024, at the age of 92 years.

Born in Great Falls, MT to Frances and Jack Travis, Susan was raised in Havre along the state’s Hi-line. By her own account, she struggled with health challenges until the age of four when she journeyed by train from Big Sky Country to Manhattan Beach, CA with her mother and older brother, Jack. She received a precursor to antibiotics developed by a local pharmacist—a neighbor of her beloved Aunt Mary Wylie. This experience likely set in motion Susan’s indomitable spirit, a superpower that accompanied her until the end of her life.

Susan graduated from the University of Montana in Missoula in 1954. Seventy years ago, this summer, while waitressing at the East Glacier Lodge, she met Richard “Dick” Galloway, a recent geology graduate and Calgary native. They married on September 3, 1955, and after a year in Minneapolis, they returned to Calgary.

Susan was a compassionate and generous soul. She volunteered with a variety of organizations: The Junior League’s Next to New Shop, Inn from the Cold, The Mustard Seed, The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Guild, and Brownies. She nurtured lifelong relationships with a diverse group of friends and a large extended family, accompanying them through trials and tribulations, often with homemade lemon ice cream in hand; checking in by landline; and playing golf and bridge, skiing, traveling extensively, enjoying Kappa Alpha Theta alumni gatherings, and hosting house parties and lively holiday meals.

Such was Susan’s awe and wonder about our world’s natural beauty, not a day went by without her commenting on it. If so inclined, please think of her if you see a unique cloud, a Harvest Moon, a clear blue sky, or the beauty of the seasons. These past two years, Susan found solace by walking in Calgary’s lovely parks. Her family is forever grateful for her unwavering kindness, sense of humor, devotion, exceptional piano playing, and love of a good book.

She is survived by her husband Dick; daughters, Janie Demaray, Patty (Kirk) Cowan, Carolyn (Keith) Hanneman, and Katie (Brad) Marshall; grandchildren, Elyse, Maria, Thomas, Samuel, Andrew, Clare, Willa, and James; and great-grandchildren, Sydney and Rally.

The family would like to thank Kathy Mendham and Judy Deleo of Proactive Seniors; Aspira Britannia; Focus Health Group; Doctors Nim and Das and the staff caring for patients on the 6^th Floor, Unit 68 of the South Health Campus; and the staff at Marshall Drug for their stellar, compassionate care.

A Celebration of Susan’s Life will be held at Calgary Golf and Country Club (919 50^th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB) on Friday, August 23, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Business casual, no denim, please.

If friends so desire, please consider a donation in Susan’s memory to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, 28 Oki Drive NW, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Telephone: (403) 955.8818. www.childrenshospital.ab.ca, Inn from the Cold, Suite 104, 110 – 11th Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 0X5, Telephone: (403) 263-8384, www.innfromthecold.org., or to Calgary Parks Foundation, (403) 974-0751, www.parksfdn.com/donate-now.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Susan’s family here.

In living memory of Susan Galloway, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.