Geneva Shares her Thoughts on Susan

Taken from remarks made at Susan's funeral December 17, 2011.

When I think of Susan I think of family. Susan loved her family and often told stories that reflected her love of them. 

I also think of friends. Susan had many friends because she was such a good friend to others.

When I think of Susan I think of the Scriptures. Susan knew them well. When we were working on a devotional, she always knew where to go to find the truth of what we were discussing and wanting to impart.

When I think of Susan, I think of devotionals. She had a unique way of taking a few verses and making them come to life through telling everyday stories to illustrate the passage.

When I think of Susan I think of a woman who loved God and served Him and the people He loved so well.

SUSAN IS GREATLY MISSED.

Susan Ruth Collard, 53, of Marysville, Michigan, slipped quietly into the presence of the Lord she loved on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at her family home in Marysville. She was accompanied at death by her beloved mother, Fern and her "little" brother, Alan.

Susan was born on October 19, 1958 at Port Huron Hospital, the third child and only daughter of Neil Kenneth and Fern (Duquesnoy) Collard. She was joyously welcomed home by big brothers Peter and Timothy.

Susan graduated from Marysville High School in 1976. She acquired a love for writing that shaped her future goals under the guidance of English teacher Shirley Bellow. Susan graduated with honors from Tennessee Temple University (Chattanooga) in 1980 with a BA in English and a minor in Journalism.

Susan was an editor and writer from Stoncroft Ministries for the past 25 years. She was the managing editor of the ministry's Progress magazine for a number of years. She also served as "ghost writer" for three different CEO's of the ministry, often helping them express what they wanted to say - only better. As a freelance writer, Susan wrote devotional material and Sunday School curriculum for a number of publishers. She especially enjoyed mentoring young writers and ministry interns.

Whether she was "Aunt Sus" or Miss Sue," her love for children was evident. After college, she tought for five years at the Montessori preschool in St. Clair. After moving to Kansas City, she became actively involved in the ministry of Red Bridge Baptist Church, working with the "tweens" and developing a puppet ministry. With a flair for the dramatic, Susan was frequently writing, directing, and/or performing in a variety of different scenarios.

In 2008, Susan moved back to Marysville to help care for her parents. She continued to write and edit for Stonecroft from "the Marysville office." They congregation of First Baptist Church of Marysville quickly became and integral part of Susan's life.

Neil Collard, Susan's father, hero, and the Voice of the Vikings, went home to be with the Lord on September 17, 2009. She is survived by her loving moher, Fern; three brothers, Peter (Jan) Collard of Ritzville, WA, Rev. Timothy (Sandra) Collard of Pekin, IL, and Alan (Tammy) Collard of Marysville. She was a loving and favorite aunt to two nephews and seven nieces.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 in the First Baptist Church in Marysville. Burial was in Riverlawn Cemetary, Marysville. To send condolences, visit marysvillefuneralhome.com.

Susan requested that memorials, in lieu of flowers, be made to two ministries that were very dear to her: Stonecroft Ministries and Haiti House of Hope - an orphanage ministry of Red Bridge Baptist Church.

A Tribute from Jeff Zogg, Stonecroft's Vice President of Communications

Taken from remarks made at Susan's funeral December 17, 2011.

Susan was loved by my family--my wife, Kris, who battled cancer as Susan did. They shared notes, prayers, treatments, side affects, and hope. Susan was loved by my children--my son Ethan and daughter Molly--both who were embraced by Susan when we arrived at Stonecroft more than 9 years ago.

Susan introduced them to the theater, to kazoos, to showtunes, and instructed them, by example, in the fun you can have in life. She broadened their view of the world--with stories and information from Haiti.

I didn't just believe Susan prayed for me and my family, but I KNEW it. I knew it because I sat with her several times a week and prayed with her. I was privileged to overhear her conversations with God.

She would always pray for her family, and ask us to do the same. I got to know many of Susan's family members through her prayers.

We were all humbled and in awe of her decision to leave Stonecroft and move to Michigan to care for her Dad, the amazing Neil Collard. When she came into my office to tell me of her decision, she truly believed she was resigning from her ministry at Stonecroft. One of the greatest joys of my career was to work out a way to continue to feature Susan's writing in Stonecroft's publications and work with her through her recent time in Michigan. I could not, I cannot, imagine Stonecroft without Susan Collard. She will be missed in every devotional, every webpage, every sentence.

She taught me as much about written communications as my 18 years in newspapers. That is instrumental. But more long-lasting and core to me is Susan's faith. Her reliance on Jesus, her trust in Him and love for Him, showed me more of a life lived in surrender to God than I knew.

I thought of Susan recently when I read in Titus:

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

    --Titus 3:4-7

Susan was so dedicated to Stonecroft because she was dedicated to Jesus. She walked with Him. She listened for Him. She loved Him and couldn't imagine life for her, or for anyone else, with out Jesus Christ. She worked hard to tell stories of His goodness and mercy, and to equip women to tell His stories.

She wrote under the names of each of the three leaders of Stonecroft--from Founder Helen Duff Baugh, through Joyce Courtney, and now for Geneva. She "found" their voice and folded it in with Scripture and wisdom and humor and leadership.

Susan was instrumental in so much that was and is Stonecroft--Progress Magazine, Friendship Bible Coffees and Stonecroft Bible Studies, receipts to donors, correspondent courses, brochures, Fellowship of Prayer, Life Publications, the Stonecroft Chapel--the list goes on because nearly everything Stonecroft printed was touched by her pen--was written, directed, or edited by her.

When she arrived, many of those ministry leaders who were used to having a free hand with their writing were faced with editing for the first time ever. Susan was firm, but gentle. She was right, and it didn't take long not only to allow Susan to have control over the words, but to trust her with the message as well. Susan GOT IT.

Susan showed her skills and love through her work. One colleague said, "Susan had a sharp editing pen, but a soft touch." Nicely put.

She was our historian.

She was our funmiester--Many days at 4 p.m. Susan would sing a show tune and have others join her--or start a kazoo parade.

If you needed a bit of cheering up, Susan Collard was the prescription. She was the master of headgear and Yatzee and general fun.

The following words, taken from the last essay Susan wrote for Stonecroft, show how she lived life and encouraged others to live life:

Too often we act as though we are powerless and allow ourselves to feel overwhelmed. But God has already given us all the power that we need. By faith, we need to plug into that power and act upon what He is asking us to do. Offer your resources to Him and ask Him to bless them. Then, be amazed at how He uses you to show His power to the world.

I was amazed at how God used Susan Collard to show His power and love to the world. She was respected and loved... and always will be.