Louisa Suggs

It’s with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Louisa Jane Suggs, 96, of Toppenish, WA. She passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family members on March 7, 2025. Louisa was born in Salem, Oregon, on March 12, 1928, to Joseph S. and Alma C. Spalding (Olson). Louisa spent her formative years in Salem and Chemawa, Oregon, and loved to spend time as a child at the Central Oregon Coast with her brothers and parents. Louisa attended grade school at Englewood Elementary and high school at North Salem High. When she was in grade school, Joseph went to work as an Operational Engineer in the heating plant at the Chemawa Indian School and Alma went to work at the Chemawa store. Afterwards, the family eventually moved to Chemawa from Salem. The United States Government established enemy aircraft spotting stations in Oregon, after the WWII shelling of the Oregon coastline from an enemy submarine. Louisa proudly served in the Civil Air Patrol at the age of 14 as a civilian aircraft spotter at the Chemawa station. After high school, she worked as a waitress in a small family-owned restaurant called the Friendly Farm, located north of Salem. She met the love of her life, Billy W. Suggs, in Chemawa and they were married on September 5, 1953. Subsequently, they moved to Warm Springs, Oregon, when Billy was stationed at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Warm Springs Indian Agency. Their first son, John S., was born while living in Warm Springs and Louisa became a full-time mother and homemaker at that time. Billy transferred to the Yakima Indian Agency in 1956 and the family moved to Toppenish, Washington. After they moved to Toppenish, they had another son, Phillip D., and a daughter, Debra A. Louisa kept busy being a devoted mother and homemaker and was always extremely involved in her children’s school and extracurricular activities, which included: grade school room mother, PTA member, school sports supporter, boy’s Cub Scout den mother, girl’s Bluebird and Campfire leader, and a Sunday school teacher. She was an excellent cook and baker which resulted in hearty, healthy, home-cooked dinners and tasty baked goods for her children and grandchildren. After Phillip graduated from high school, Louisa returned to work as a waitress at Adolf’s El Charrito restaurant (subsequently named the Lotus and currently a taco wagon kitchen) to help with her two sons college expenses. She remained on the job between 1977 and 1984 and established many friendships there that lasted for the remainder of her lifetime. Louisa was also involved as a volunteer for the Toppenish Historical Society and worked for many years to both establish and operate the Toppenish Historical Museum, as well as volunteering at the Yakama Nation Museum. She enjoyed working with ceramics and spent many years creating and painting ceramic items while having lively conversations with her “ceramic” friends. Louisa was also a voracious book reader and spent many hours at the Toppenish library. Her children often teased that she could read a book and watch TV simultaneously and could keep abreast of both activities! She also loved to listen to a variety of music. " Bolero" by Maurice Ravel and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly were a couple of her favorite songs. She was known to tap a toe while listening to a favorite song and she taught her children to appreciate music as well. After Billy’s retirement and in their later years, Louisa and Billy enjoyed travelling and spending time with family at the Central Oregon Coast - crabbing, clamming, fishing and kite flying, and attending the Scottish Highland games in Seattle. Louisa’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were very important in her life and she dedicated time and energy ensuring their happiness and well-being and instilling honesty and integrity into their lives. After Billy’s passing in 2008, Louisa spent the remaining years of her life living independently in the family home in Toppenish with support from her daughter, Debra. Louisa will be greatly missed by her loving family and all those who knew her. Louisa is survived by her three children, John (Vickie), Phillip (Lori), and Debra Suggs-Ledin (Tony deceased). She had four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy W. Suggs, four brothers, Donald L., Harold E., Virgil R., and David N. Spalding and her parents Joseph S., and Alma C., Spalding. Louisa will be interred at the Zillah, WA cemetery. Arrangements are being performed by Valley Hills Funeral Home in Zillah. There will be a private graveside service for family. A Celebration of Life will be held towards the end of May. If anyone would be interested in attending this service, please text or phone Debra Suggs-Ledin at 509-949-1924 for the details, date, and time. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Disabled American Veterans organization or your local Humane Society. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Louisa Suggs, please visit our flower store.