70, formerly of Burns Flat
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Mary Susan Harvey Manuel “Susan” former resident of Burns Flat, passed away surrounded by love and family on Sunday July 5, 2020. She had a long history of fighting cancer, having previously beat it three times. The last go round proved to be too hard on her, she fought tirelessly for three years, but it eventually became too much.
Susan was the oldest of five children, born to Donald & Ruth Harvey. She was born in Woodward on March 3, 1950.
Susan grew up in Gate. In 1962 her family moved to Albuquerque, N.M., where they lived for three years before moving to Guam. After two years in Guam they returned to Albuquerque where Susan graduated from Del Norte High Scool in 1968.
Susan attended NWOSU in Alva, where she was introduced to Duane, by way of her lifelong friend Eddie Dunn. Duane and Susan married at the Friends Church in Gate on August 22, 1970.
After graduating they moved to New Mexico where they began their careers teaching on the Navajo reservation. In 1974 they welcomed their first child Sean, followed by Jessica in 1978 and Cory in 1982. In 1975 the family moved to Enid, where Susan taught at CLLC and later Monroe Elementary. In 1982 the family moved to Gate, where Susan taught at the elementary school until it closed in 1992.
The family moved to Burns Flat, where Susan taught Title I at Will Rogers Elementary. There she went on the be assistant principal and later principal. She spent a few years as principal of the junior high and then returned as principal to Will Rogers Elementary, where, in 2015 she retired after 40 plus years in education.
In 2017 Susan & Duane moved to Union City to be closer their grandchildren. It was Susan’s wish that there not be a funeral or memorial service for her, the family is honoring those wishes.
Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Ruth Harvey; father-in-law Oliver Manuel; and brother-in-law Bob Greene.
She is survived by husband Duane Manuel; children Sean Manuel, Jessica Whipple(Justin), and Cory Manuel; grandchildren Nick Manuel-Carroll, Grace Whipple, Ethan Whipple, and Ozzie Whipple siblings James Harvey, Lois Harvey John Harvey, Herb Harvey and Steve Lawing; as well as many beloved siblings-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and former students.
Kindness was the overriding principle of Susan’s life, she believed when you have nothing else to give you can give kindness and a smile.