Suzanne Swindle Johnston, our much loved Wife, Mom, Grandma, Sister, and Aunt passed from this life on December 29th, 2024. She will be greatly missed.

     Suzanne is survived by:  her brothers Steve Swindle and Art Swindle, children Robert Johnstone and wife Thea Selby,  David Johnston and Wife Jennifer Doyle Johnston, Jerrilyn Ankenman and husband Gregg Ankenman, Grandchildren  Aidan, Brose, Beck, Caroline, Collette, and Dan.  Suzanne's husband of 63 years George Johnston preceded her in death.

Suzanne was born in Salt Lake City, Utah April 24th 1937 as the eldest child of Dan and Vi Swindle.  She Loved her childhood and all the adventures her family went on to Monroe Utah, Fish Lake, and visiting family. Her stories never left her memory.  She had very vivid memories of her dog Candy and Riding horses up Emigration Canyon, and just the freedom to roam in those days. She loved telling us those stories this Christmas. This Christmas seemed a little different than years past, the conversations really seemed to have purpose with her grandchildren. You could tell she really had thought out the conversations and she had the opportunity to tell them how proud she was of them and how bright she thought their futures would be . Mom really looked forward to her weekly phone calls with her brothers. She really cherished those relationships and they were a highlight of her week. Mom also had a very close relationship with the girls who helped her out weekly.  It was a mutually beneficial relationship, they really helped her get her scanning done and get errands met, and in return I think she really was a support for them and gave them great life advice. We greatly appreciate April and Raquel.

  Suzanne married George Johnston on March 24th, 1959. They met at a University of Utah football game coordinated by their sorority and fraternity. According to George it was love at first sight! George also called their marriage "The most important event of his life". They moved around following  opportunities  for Dad's career, first finishing a  PhD at Utah state in Logan and then a post Doc position at the University of California Berkeley. Suzanne was a great supporter of Dad's career and put her own educational ambition on temporary hold while they raised three kids and settled into California living. She went on later to get her Master's degree from Cal State Hayward to further her own career.

  Suzanne had two very strong passions besides her family. Genealogy has been a big part of her life, she has been fascinated with family history and tracing it back hundreds of years. She not only took on her own lineage but also the complicated one of our father. Many family vacations to England and Scotland were hiking around old family farms and cemeteries to investigate and confirm relatives. She also had quite a network of friends made along the way. Her Wednesday group was always something she looked forward to. They were always excited to share their findings. She also had people in England and the east coast who she worked with to get the genealogy accurate. The Last few years of mom's life were committed to scanning and preserving her life's work.

   Her other passion was teaching. She started at the Shands adult education school in Oakland when we first moved to Ca. There she not only helped educate people making their lives more successful , but she also made lifelong friends who still routinely get together some 40 years later. Shands was an important part of her life with the real purpose of elevating people's ability to be successful through education. She went on to develop curriculum for schools for many years to spread positive learning experiences for others. She was very successful at that and her passion was a big part of that.

   Later in life Suzanne dedicated her time to family. she retired early to care for grandchildren and then later took care of dad as he had dementia. Dementia is a tough battle to deal with as short term memories fade. Suzanne cared for George and miraculously kept him in his home to the ripe age of 88. Both mom and dad's wishes were to stay in their home as long as possible and I am happy they were both able to fulfill that wish. Suzanne's Legacy lives on through her genealogy and her family. I hope she is smiling down on us.

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