Susan Patricia Durst

Susan Patricia “Suzi” Durst was born on December 12, 1946 in Modesto, Ca to Elmon Maxcy Sutphin and Margaret Loretta McAllister Sutphin. She went home to be with the Lord and reunited with her beloved husband on November 19, 2025.

Suzi grew up in California, mainly in the Laton area. She had 2 siblings and will be greatly missed by her older sister Carole and younger brother and his spouse Steve and Joanne. Suzi’s lifetime love of service to others was greatly influenced by her upbringing. The Sutphin home was a place of faith, warmth, and love, welcoming foster children and caring for those in need. Even when times were tight, the Sutphins were a family that shared what they had.

She attended Reedley College, and in 1966, Suzi married the love of her life, James Eslie Durst. They soon started a family with daughter Leslie arriving in 1967 and son Daniel in 1971. Eslie preceded her in death in August of 2025, just short of their 59th Anniversary. She often joked that she had loved Eslie since the 4th grade, so it’s no wonder that her heart was shattered when he left this earth.

In the early years of their marriage, Suzi was a Nurses Aide, and also worked tirelessly with Eslie in his various ventures as they lived in many places throughout California. Later they settled in Kerrville, Texas where Suzi worked in the restaurant they owned. She also would lend a hand on job sites when he needed help at their construction company. This was an ongoing theme in their marriage, to be together side by side in work and ministry. They were dedicated to God, each other, and service to others.

Eventually, they made their way back to California where they welcomed Eslie’s parents into their home and cared for them until Melvin (1995) and then Fay (2008) passed away. In that time, they also mourned the passing of Suzi’s parents Max (2004) and Peggy (2014). After many years in Selma, they moved to Hanford, CA to share a home with Eslie’s brother Alton. Suzi was like a sister to Alton, and he feels a deep loss.

Suzi had the voice of an angel. She loved singing throughout her life and had participated in choirs and madrigals and groups, singing in school, Church and for all sorts of weddings, funeral, and events. Her greatest joy was using her voice to sing praises to the Lord. For many years she worked in Hospice as a Chaplain, and much of her ministry was singing to those in her care. Eslie, Suzi and their kids ministered in Churches all over the United States, and lead praise and worship in their home Church. She became an ordained minister in 2000 and took great joy in sharing the Word of God with others.

In 2002, after attending school in Oregon, Suzi became Nationally Certified in The Sacred Art of Dying. While she had already served in Hospice for years already, both as a lay person and as an ordained minister, this new layer of education and certifcation was something she was very proud of.

Her love for the Lord permeated every part of her life. Whether it was opening her home to those in need, comforting those who were experiencing loss, or sharing her faith to a crowd and one on one, she tried to never miss a chance to show people that God loved them. Her children always knew that mom was there to pray with them, and to love and support them. She was the epitome of unconditional love.

Suzi is survived by her siblings Carole Reis, Steve & Joanne Sutphin and Lawrence Alton Durst; children Leslie & Dale Gillespie, Daniel & Jonna Durst, and child of the heart Christina Roup; 10 grandchildren/spouses, 6 great grandchildren/spouses, 2 great great grandchildren; and many cousins, niece and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, Suzi’s family has asked that donations be made to: First Baptist Hanford (9125 13 1/2 Ave, Hanford, CA 93230) in honor of their Grief Ministry & Community Outreach for their Wednesday Night Dinners.