Susan Barnett

Susan Cate Barnett, born February 5th 1946, entered heaven’s gate on Sunday, February 18, 2018. Susan will be forever loved and remembered by her beloved husband of 45 years Bates Barnett Jr., her children Bates B. Barnett and Francesca Lynn Barnett, and her five grandchildren, Madison Barnett, Taylor Barnett, Alexandria Simpson, Kamara Simpson and Anthony Simpson. Susan will also be forever remembered by extended family, dear friends and neighbors. She will be sorely missed by her cherished Chihuahua, Lobo.

Susan graduated from Oregon State School for the Deaf in 1967 and attended Gallaudet University from 1967-1970. Susan worked at Washington School for the Deaf (WSD) from 1972 to 2003 as a Student Life Counselor & House Parent in which she cared for and helped raise countless children in the deaf community. She loved her job so much that she returned to work on call after she officially retired in 2003. She was well loved by both the staff and students at WSD. Susan also worked for Portland Community College as a tutor for students in the American Sign language Program and volunteered many hours at Irvington Elementary School teaching her children's classmates American Sign Language.

Susan was known for her creativity, sense of humor, loving spirit and enthusiasm for the holidays. She was the haunting witch cackle behind the WSD successful haunted house and brought cheer as Mrs. Claus at Christmas for many years. Susan’s love for Halloween lead her to create amazing costumes for herself and her family from Miss. Piggie, a creepy witch and an epic handmade Rainbow Brite costume.

Susan and her family frequently traveled, camped and took road trips often bringing along her children's friends. She was very enthusiastic about scrapbooking and created multiple scrap books for each of her children and grandchildren. She was a true family historian leaving behind many cherished memories and photographs for her family. Susan was an avid collector of Coca-Cola and Nightmare Before Christmas memorabilia. She had a passion for the movies and went to the movie theater weekly, often with her family and friends in tow. She was an amazing cook, extraordinary baker and welcomed everyone to her home for the holidays. If you were in Susan’s presence you experienced warmth, love and laughter. Susan was a woman of God, she was a beautiful person inside and out and a legend to all who knew her.

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