Suzanne Elizabeth McGraw

Suzanne was born on March 30, 1942, in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, to Basil and Jeana (Fenwick) Buergler. She grew up in Fort Smith, the second of eight children.

Suzanne began her nursing career at St. Vincent in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was there, at their apartment complex, that she met Samuel Howard McGraw, and they were married on September 6, 1969. The couple settled in Fort Smith, where they raised their family.

In Fort Smith, Suzanne became a nursing instructor at Westark Community College, helping train the next generation of nurses. On weekends she worked in labor and delivery at St. Edward Mercy, and she eventually joined the hospital full time. There she served as supervisor of Labor and Delivery, then Director of Employee Health and Infection Control, and finally Director of Education.

Suzanne took great pride in caring for others. After her family, nursing was her greatest love. Even in her final years, as time softened her memories, the heart of a nurse never left her. She still reached out with the same tenderness she showed throughout her career, because caring for others was never just what she did. It was who she was.

Suzanne was a faithful and devout member of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith, where she was active in the IC Ladies Auxiliary and served as a Eucharistic Minister at Mass and in local hospitals. Her family lovingly called her “Saint Suzanne.”

She was preceded in death by her parents, Basil and Jeana Buergler; her husband, Samuel Howard McGraw; her brother, John Buergler; and her brother-in-law, Carl Baumeister.

She is survived by her four daughters: Amy Beam and husband Bill of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Jennifer Smith of Fort Smith, Arkansas; Megan Sturgeon and husband Ricky of Farmington, Arkansas; and Sydney Peer and husband Leroy of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Jacob (Nicole) Lander, Cami Sturgeon, Drew (Kally) Sturgeon, Tyler Smith, Emma Smith, and Whitney Peer, and her precious great-grandchildren, Layla and Theo Lander. She is also survived by her siblings, Don (Marsha) Buergler, Mary Jean (Tom) Loy, Bill (Lucy) Buergler, David (Rona) Buergler, Terry Baumeister, and Kelly Buergler, along with more nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews than can be named, because her family, and her love, were immense.

The family is deeply grateful to the staff at Mercy Crest for caring for Suzanne with such kindness and patience, even while she was still sure she was in charge and writing charts.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am Monday, November 9th at Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith. A rosary will be recited at 3:00pm Sunday, November 8th at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith Visitation will begin an hour prior at 2:00pm. Suzanne will be laid to rest privately following the mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Immaculate Conception Church or Mercy Crest. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home.