Oct. 12, 1959 — March 12, 2025
Suzy Vann, a resident of Ashland, passed away on March 12 in Portland, Oregon, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Suzy was born on the Aleutian island of Adak on Oct. 21, 1959. She grew up in San Diego and earned a degree in child psychology from San Diego State University prior to launching a career in the banking industry.
In 1995 she moved to the Pacific Northwest to get married and begin a new life adventure. Suzy and her new husband, Rick, built a home in Olympia, Washington, on beautiful Lake St. Clair. It was there they began her favorite adventure yet, starting their family and having two daughters, Morgan and Madi. Years later the family decided to move to a little pocket of heaven, Ashland.
Suzy loved her community and was very involved as a volunteer, working at the Ashland Independent Film Festival, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Habitat for Humanity, to name a few. In the last several years she was a volunteer with the Britt Music and Arts Festival in Jacksonville, the spot she came to know as her “happy place!”
In addition to being an incredible mom and a compassionate friend to who made all feel welcome, she loved nature and the outdoors. Family camping trips to Pinecrest, California, hiking the local Ashland trails, and family voyages to Europe and Scandinavia were highlights of her life.
When the local cancer center could not accommodate her, her family took her to OHSU in Portland, where she stayed with her daughters and daughter Madi’s partner Devon. Her cancer turned out to be a very rare and aggressive type, but the wonderful cancer team at OHSU took incredible care of her. She was surrounded by a village of family and friends and love in her final days and moments.
Suzy is survived by her beautiful daughters Madi and Morgan, her former husband Rick, her brother Steve Grantham and Madi’s partner Devon Lancaster.
If you are interested in being a part of the celebration of life for Suzy, please let the family know. In her spirit, all are welcome. The event will be on Saturday, May 10, at the Britt in Jacksonville. Please email rickmvann@gmail.com and ask for an E-Vite. Thank you!
Obituaries may be submitted to Ashland.news via our online article submission form, or via email to news@ashland.news, with a photo or two attached if desired. Please be sure to include dates of birth and death, and reference to connections to Ashland/Talent/Southern Oregon. Please allow a few days for posting. There is no charge. Those wishing to make a donation supporting the Ashland.news service may do so here.
