Susan Kay Johnston

 Susan Kay Coddington Johnston passed away Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Weatherford, Texas, at age 75.

 Susan was born on September 30, 1950, in Great Bend, Kansas, to Cecil and Floy Coddington. She grew up on her family's farm in Alexander, Kansas, and experienced an active childhood with a lot of close extended family nearby, church activities, fun with friends, and hard work on the farm. Susan could drive a tractor by herself before she was a teenager. She graduated as the Salutatorian of her high school class in 1968, then attended Kansas State University where she graduated with honors in 1972. She got her Master's degree from Troy State University in 1986.

 Susan made her career in the child development field working as a classroom preschool teacher and for Head Start where she rose to a manager position in the federal office for the Department of Children and Family Services. After Susan "retired," she started a consulting business partnered with a friend to advise area Head Start programs in grant writing and meeting standards.

 While attending K-State Susan met the love of her life, Clyde Harold "Jay" Johnston. They married on May 4, 1974. At that time Susan became a step-mom to Jay's two children Christie Reneé and Philip Joseph. Susan and Jay went on to have two sons, Brian Taylor in 1978 and Matthew Eiland in 1979. The couple enjoyed a close marriage with ups, downs, many adventures, and a lot of love until Jay's passing in 2025. They traveled all over the United States together living in Texas, New Mexico, California, and Alabama. They also lived in the Philippines and Japan and toured the United Kingdom and Ireland. On May 4, 2024, the couple celebrated their 50th anniversary with a party and were honored by many friends and family members.

 Susan was good at most things she tried but was passionate about quilting, creating, and gifting many beautiful quilts to friends and family. She was a talented all-around seamstress and enjoyed reading, gardening, British murder mysteries, puzzles, and time with family. She had a wicked and sassy sense of humor, an incredibly giving and generous spirit, and was just plain fun to be around. She loved her pets and was happiest with a dog in her lap. She was proud of her Kansas roots and loved sunflowers, K-State sports, and the Kansas City Chiefs.

 Susan was preceded in death by her parents Cecil and Floy Coddington, husband Jay Johnston, sons Matthew and Brian Johnston, and a great-grandson Garrett English. She is survived by her daughter Christie Johnston, son Philip Johnston and wife Jonna, grandchildren David English, Jessica English, Rebecca English, Andrew Johnston and fiancé Nichole Fisher, Ashlyn Johnston, Amanda Johnston, and Eiland Johnston; sister Nancy Romine, brother Alan Coddington and wife Debbie, and her brother Dennis Coddington and wife Mary. In addition, Susan is survived by six great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews, cousins, and dear friends. The family would like to extend special thanks to the caring staff at Martin Crest Assisted Living and Beyond Faith Hospice.

 A graveside memorial service is pending at the Mount Sylvan Cemetery in Mount Sylvan, Texas.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to any Head Start program, the American Cancer Society, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, or any local animal shelter.

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