She was born at the McCormack Mill Hospital in Port Gamble in 1939. Her mother was Ruby Ada Kvinsland of the pioneering Ole/Ellen Kvinsland family near Poulsbo. Her father, Nelson Campbell Davidson, DDS, was a Canadian immigrant and the first full time dentist to serve Poulsbo.
Sue spent her first 18 years living in the same house. It had no address. Sounds kind of Norwegian doesn’t it.
Like most Norwegian girls, she liked recess best. High school memories include basketball during PE. Sue, who just barely ever cleared the 5 foot level (including a fluffed hairdo), seemed to always be matched against Louella Schwenkendorf, who had cleared 6 feet very early in life. It is rumored that Louella still carries scars on her lower legs where Sue repeatedly kicked her in the shins to keep her from scoring. She ran for Boys Club President but was disqualified and had to accept the same position in Girl’s Club when she was a senior. She attended both Junior and Senior Proms four years running. Each time was with a different boy. How she loved to dance.
Once graduated, she spent one year at Olympic Community College and then transferred to the University of Washington. As she boarded the ferry she stood on the stern, put her hand over her head to shield her eyes from the setting sun and stated, “What a wonderful place to grow up but I shall never ever again live on the Kitsap Peninsula.” At UW she met a handsome gentleman named John Tharp. It was love at second sight and they were married in Pensacola, Florida in 1961. John had started flight training leading to the designation of Naval Aviator. In the following years, along came Toni, Tracy and finally, after a hiatus of 7 years, Lani. The family lived in Hawaii, Iwakuni, Japan and Greece. They finally settled on Fox Island.
Not known for her athleticism, Sue took tennis lessons on Fox Island from a very well respected professional. After the third lesson, she took Sue aside and told her that if Sue vowed to never tell anyone who she had taken tennis lessons from, she would refund all of her money. Two decades later, her athleticism was once again tested on a trek to the Mt. Everest area in Nepal. She climbed to over 16,000 feet as Martin lagged far behind.
In 1982, Sue went back to school to obtain her Master’s degree in counseling. She worked with adolescent alcohol and drug abusers. Some of her juvenile clients were incarcerated in Remann Hall where Pierce County detains the worst of the worst juvenile offenders. Sue went behind the wire to deliver professional treatment. She gained great respect throughout the Western Washington drug counseling community for her ability to effectively engage these misguided youth and, in a few, make a life-changing difference. She was a regular at many schools presenting drug and alcohol forums to middle school and high school students.
In 1986, she was introduced to another Naval Officer who had sworn off marriage. But never, ever, had he encountered a woman like Miss Sue. It took her four years to convince him but that set the stage for the next twenty-eight. The quaint New England style church in Port Gamble where they were married in 1990 is now lovingly referred to as ” the scene of the crime.” Sue and Martin were an excellent match.
Miss Sue contributed three children to the new blended family and Martin the same. Between them there are twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. All, save two, still reside in Washington State.
The newlyweds spent a two year tour in Guam and four more in San Antonio. Finally they returned to Washington for Martin’s twilight tour. They designed and built their dream home near… wait for it… Port Gamble – on the Kitsap Peninsula. So much for “I shall not return!” Sue and Martin were married for nearly 28 years.
Everybody liked Sue. She could instantly put people at ease with her smile, her sense of humor and the warm glow that surrounded her. She was fun and feisty. Sue enriched the life of everyone she touched. Along the way, she found the means to overcome two huge obstacles in life which was to her great credit. She lived a full and meaningful life. But when she was diagnosed with Dementia she realized this was one battle that she would not win. And she did not.
Sue passed away less than half a mile from where she was born. It took nine long years for the brilliant flame of her candle to dim, then flicker and finally go out. Our two eagles had together soared overhead the day before she died. Her Uber had arrived and was waiting to escort her to be with her mom and dad. An extraordinary quietness settled over the Hideaway. I miss her so.
A memorial service will be held on August 18th at 2:00 PM at the Port Gamble Church followed by a “reception” at the Hideaway. The Bedpan Open Golf Tournament will be played in her honor.
Remembrances please to the Make a Wish Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association.
