Sue was born on December 23, 1950, in Spokane, Washington, and was adopted shortly afterward by her loving parents, Russell and Betty Doane. She graduated from Wilbur High School and later attended Spokane Community College.
In December 1977, Sue married Joseph Kunz, and together they settled on the family farm in Sherman, Washington. There, they raised their two daughters, Jalayna and Mikki. Sue was a busy farm mom, horse mom, fair mom, and scout mom—not only to her own girls, but to many kids throughout the Sherman and Wilbur communities. She became affectionately known as “Mama Sue” to many of her daughters’ friends and later as “Nana” or “Nana Sue” to their children.
Her granddaughter, Addy, was the light of both her Nana Sue and Papa Joe’s lives, and Sue treasured every moment she spent with her.
Sue dedicated more than 20 years of her career to the Wilbur School District, where she worked as a paraprofessional serving special-needs students. She took great pride in helping her students succeed academically while also teaching them valuable skills to help them navigate life.
Outside of work and family, Sue enjoyed playing golf, reading, attending Wilbur Catholic Church and participating in the Altar Society. She loved attending school activities and events for her daughters and granddaughter, and she was always there to cheer them on. In her later years, she could often be found watching Gonzaga basketball or enjoying a good NCIS marathon with her beloved companion, Smudge the cat.
Sue also enjoyed traveling to visit her daughter Mikki and her family in the San Diego area. During her visits, she especially enjoyed trips to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and the waterfront.
Sue is survived by her daughters Jalayna (Rob) Watkins; Mikki (Brian) Kiger; and her beloved granddaughter, Addy Watkins and her brother, George (Karen) Doane.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Kunz; brothers Patrick and Michael Doane; and parents Russell and Betty Doane.
Sue leaves behind a legacy of love, family, kindness, generosity and countless lives she touched through her work, her community, and the many children who came to know her as “Mama Sue” and “Nana Sue.”
Rosary Service for Sue will be held at 10:00 a.m. with memorial service to follow at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wilbur, Washington, with a luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be sent to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in honor of Sue. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.strate-funeral.com for the Kunz family. Strate Funeral Home is caring for the family.
