Susan Henry

Susan Henry of Vaughn died October 20. She was 73 years old.

Sue was born in 1949 on Vashon Island to George and Mary Alice Schoeppel and was later raised by her stepmother, Ruby Schoeppel. She had three siblings: John, Pam and Bruce, of whom Pam is the sole survivor.

After graduating high school, Sue worked as a secretary at Western Farmers in Seattle.

Sue married Doug Henry in 1976. Doug’s career with Manson Construction Co. moved the young family, including their sons Jeff and Jacques, from Seattle to Ferndale, Federal Way and Valdez, Alaska. After building a house and restoring a 35-foot boat in Valdez, they sold it all and moved onto a 65-foot liveaboard boat in Tacoma.

The family moved to Vaughn in 1989. Sue was employed by the Peninsula School District in human resources, where she enjoyed working for 25 years.

While there, Sue and Doug started Instep Dance and taught ballroom dancing in many places including the Tacoma Elks Lodge, Amvets, Gig Harbor Eagles, Tacoma and Kitsap USA Dance, and Jubilee Lodge.

Sue also co-produced and co-directed the three-day dance event “Pacific Dancefest” for three years and “Instep Dancefest” for 16 years with her husband. She enjoyed traveling, crafts and dancing, especially tango and swing, and loved listening to country music.

Sue enjoyed good times with family and friends but especially with Jacque’s dog Erebus. She had a beautiful smile and charming wit and will be sorely missed by her family and the many friends she made.

Thank you to the doctors and especially to the many nurses that took care of her at St. Anthony Hospital. We are eternally grateful.

A memorial will be held in the spring. We love you “Lady Bug.”