Susan Jean Hawthorne

Susan was born on May 20, 1944, in Ojai, California, to James Schumacher and Lois Eader Schumacher. She grew up in Ojai and graduated from Nordhoff High School. Some of her most cherished memories were made during summers spent in Huntington Beach, California, with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Eader. She loved swimming in the ocean, the beach lifestyle, and the joy of experiencing one of California's most beautiful places.

In 1963, Susan married Richard "Fritz" Trumbo while he was serving in the Navy in Port Hueneme. In 1969, she moved to Jordan, Montana, with their two sons, Calvin and David. While living in Jordan, Montana, she welcomed her third son, Randy, in 1973. She later made her home in Great Falls.

In the mid-1990s, Susan returned to Ojai, California, where she later met Garet Hawthorne. They were married in 2015, and in 2016 they moved to Queen Creek, Arizona, where they built a beautiful life together in their home there. In 2024, Susan moved to North Carolina to be closer to her son Calvin and his family.

Susan was a deeply caring person who often sacrificed her own best interests for the sake of others. She had a remarkable, almost uncanny connection with animals, who seemed naturally drawn to her. It was not unusual for her to take in stray cats over the years. Her compassion extended quietly and consistently to both people and animals, and that spirit defined much of who she was.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Garet Hawthorne; her parents, James and Lois Schumacher; and her brother, Jimmy Schumacher.

Susan is survived by her three sons, Calvin Trumbo and his wife Valerie, and their children, Cameron and Colby; David Trumbo and his son, Zach; and Randy Trumbo and his wife Lynsee, and their children, Reed, Adrianna, Isabella, and Colin.

A private celebration of Susan's life will be held in Libby, Montana, in August for her immediate family.

She will be remembered for her caring heart, her sacrifices for those she loved, and the quiet, special way she connected with the world around her. Her family takes comfort in the thought that she is now embraced by her parents, her grandparents, and all those who loved her and have passed before her, with the animals she cared for throughout her life gathered around her in a beautiful reunion.

Online condolences may be shared at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com