Susan Marie Buchanan

Sue was born February 10, 1956, in San Francisco to Robert and Marie Buchanan. She graduated from South San Francisco High School in 1974. Her favorite memories growing up were of her summers spent at Clearlake, CA with family and friends. 

Sue enjoyed living the past 17 years in a small town called Donald, Oregon. Susan became a mother in 1981 and would say that being a mother was one of the best things that she did in her life. 

Sue married and had her only child, whom she adored. They all moved to the “country”, Santa Rosa, CA from San Mateo. Sue mostly stayed home raising her daughter, Jaime. Before having her daughter Sue had lots of practice with her nieces and nephews, whom she also adored. 

Sue married her 2nd husband in 1990. They owned an auto paint repair business together. She ran that business for 20+ years. Sue and her husband took their business and moved to Oregon in 2008 to be closer to family. 

Sue loved her friends and family. She had such a big heart and would give to a fault. There was never a doubt that she would be there if someone needed her. Sue enjoyed shopping, having coffee, meals, and many kinds of sweets with her family and friends. Sue also loved her cats, although there really wasn't an animal she didn't love. She would cry if she thought any animal was being mistreated. 

Sue had a bad health scare in 2009. She came out on the other side of it knowing that all she needed was Jesus Christ. She was able to leave her addictions behind. Her faith in Jesus helped her overcome some huge mountains in her life. She was able to quit drinking and then a few years later quit smoking. In 2017 Sue was diagnosed with her first round of cancer. Sue went through some pretty big battles with cancer. Multiple surgeries, chemo, radiation, and many side effects until 2022 when she went into remission. Her remission lasted 4 years when the breast cancer became metastatic. It spread to multiple places in her body. She remained optimistic trying things to keep it from progressing but ultimately, she lost that battle and is now at peace with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Sue was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother, Mira Buchanan; her maternal grandparents Carl Foreman and Catherine Duncan; her uncle Albert Foreman; her parents Robert and Marie Buchanan, and her uncle Bill Buchanan. 

Sue is survived by her daughter Jaime Bettiga (Robert Bettiga); three grandchildren: Michael Bettiga (Lilly Bettiga), Nicholas Bettiga (Valynn Bettiga), Francesca Bettiga, and; great granddaughter: Oaklynn Bettiga Sue is also survived by her siblings, Thomas Buchanan (Diane Buchanan) and Barbara Mullins (Maurice Mullins); her cousin; and many nieces and nephews. 

Sue will be missed terribly. 

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 

You are welcome to send flowers or make a donation to one of her favorite charities. The Humane Society or Sue's closet at https://suescloset.org/ 

The family and close friends will be having a gathering at the burial site to honor Sue on July 21, 2026.