Susan Waits Johnson, 78, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at her home, surrounded by family. She was born August 13, 1948, at Mallory Taylor Hospital in LaGrange, Kentucky, to Ralph and Mary Lee Waits.
Susan graduated from Oldham County High School with the Class of 1966, where her classmates voted her Best Sense of Humor, a quality that stayed with her throughout her life. She went on to graduate from Sullivan Business School. Her career included serving as a supervisor with a temporary nurse service and working in sales for dental and medical offices.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church in LaGrange. Susan also coached T-ball for Oldham County Little League, and her team won the league the year she coached.
Susan was loved by all who knew her. She had a huge heart, a captivating and contagious laugh, and a deeply caring nature. Suzie was always more concerned with others than with herself. She and her husband, David, shared a beautiful marriage of 43 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Mary Lee Waits, and her sisters, Mary Rose Adair and Patricia Ann Clifford. Left to cherish Susan's memory are her husband, David W. Johnson; her son, Marion R. "Tray" Rankin III (Angelia); her daughter, Michelle R. Cardwell (Jason); her sister, Julia Lee Thompson (Ed); 8 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends.
Visitation will be held Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven, 4400 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40218, with a celebration of Susan's life to follow at 3:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hosparus Health, 6200 Dutchmans Lane, Louisville, KY 40205 https://hosparushealth.org/; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org; or Oldham County Little League, P.O. Box 713, LaGrange, KY 40031
