Susan Elizabeth Masters

Three-score and five years ago, Susan Elizabeth Masters was born on May 6, 1957 in Ottawa, Kansas. Susan was born into the God-fearing family of Robert and Alice Steward.

She grew up in the little Kansas community of Agricola, attending Williamsburg School through her junior year of high school. She was a very attractive young lady and was a state-level cross country runner. Her family moved to Ottawa, KS and she attended Ottawa Senior High School in her senior year, graduating in 1975. Attending church and listening to her mother’s radio preacher programs were a formative influence in her life. Susan yearned to leave the small town life. She attended the University of Nebraska in Omaha, NE and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Susan married and had two children, Christina Harrison of Fredericktown, OH and Wendy Fischer of Monument, CO. Her children were her pride and joy, whom she adored and they were the center of her life, as well as her grandchildren whom she doted on with so much love.

Later on Susan married her soul mate and guardian angel, John Swarts, whom she lovingly called J, on November 12, 2010. Their love story was one for the books. He was the most amazing partner to her and she to him. They lived in Prairie Village for many years then recently moved to Overland Park.

Susan enjoyed many hobbies and interests. She loved to read and sew (especially special things for her children and grandchildren, and she loved to monogram her husband’s sports uniforms). She reveled in baking cookies for her children and grandchildren (of course J was the official taster), making jerky for them and sending them awesome care packages regularly. She enjoyed playing brain-teasing games like Elevate, running, taking long walks and doting on her husband, the love of her life. Susan also enjoyed the attentive companionship of her little Shitsu pet, Wookie. One of her favorite pastimes was gardening. Susan loved to cook and entertain. She enjoyed making people happy. She and J loved going to the movies and the New Dinner Theater. She was an avid fan of the Royals and Chiefs and enjoyed watching the games with her husband, J, sitting side by side. Susan cherished spending time with friends and family. She loved playing cards, especially Hearts, and really enjoyed winning.

Susan felt that it was important to give back to the community by volunteering and helping others at the Church of the Resurrection’s Food Pantry and also at the St. Michael’s Homeless Veteran’s Center. Susan and J found a wonderful community at the Church of Resurrection in Overland Park. The friendships they have made at COR are greatly valued. The supporting and loving kindness that was bestowed on them from their friends and family during Susan’s illness will never be forgotten.

Susan had surgery on May 12, 2021 to do a biopsy that would determine the type of mass found on her brain in an MRI.  But the doctors instead removed the malignant growth that that was later pathologically determined to be glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is considered to be the most serious  brain cancer that aggressively invades the brain. She endured radiation and chemotherapy, fighting valiantly, never complaining and always with a smile on her face and an optimistic outlook.  The doctors saw no cancer on the the initial post-treatment MRIs for a short time.  But the cancer returned in September 2022 and swiftly and aggressively took her life on October 30, 2022.

Susan will be remembered for the way she lived her life with amazing grace in every hardship that she encountered. She will be remembered as the Woman of Grace and Bravery. Susan’s love for Jesus was the cornerstone of her life. She adored her family and friends and was loved by everyone that had the privilege of knowing her. Her presence in the lives of everyone who knew and loved her will be greatly missed.

She was pre-deceased by her father and her  brother, Victor Steward. Her mother is still living in Lansing, KS. She is also survived by her husband, her two children Christina Harrison and Wendy Fisher, her grandchildren Noah, Josiah, Samuel and Silas Harrison, Nathaniel and Jonathan Fisher, her step-son Jon Swarts, and her step-granddaughter, Kristen Swarts, as well as her brother, Bobby Steward and sisters Melody Thompson and Loretta Chatoff, as well as multiple nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her viewing and funeral service will be held at the Church of the Resurrection in the Wesley Chapel located at 13720 Roe Avenue, Leawood, KS 66224 on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022. The viewing will be from 9:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., where a video montage can be viewed of her life. The funeral service, officiated by Pastor Dennis Apple, will begin at 10:00 a.m. For those unable to attend the service in person, it will be livestreamed and is accessible by clicking HERE.

Susan will be interred in the Leavenworth National Cemetery located at 150 Muncie Rd, Leavenworth, KS 66048 directly following the service. All are welcome to join us for her burial.

The family requests donations in her memory to the GlioblastomaFoundation.org for research to eradicate this merciless brain cancer.