Susan Cecilia Kinsley

Salem, Oregon

Passed away on September, 2 2025 in Salem, Oregon from a chronic health condition.

Born Novemer 2nd, 1979 in Salem Oregon

Father: Travis Kinsley Mother: Sherry Poitra

Susan was a member of the Tohono O Odam Nation, and descendent of the Hopi and Turtle Mountain Band Chippewa/Cree Tribe. She raised in Oakland, California with her father, yet for most of her life she resided in Salem, Oregon where she lived with her mother until she had children of her own. She was a dedicated mother to her children, Lilyana and Travis Kinsley. She was primarily a stay-at-home mother, yet for a period worked for the State of Oregon and a brief period in customer service. She attended Chemeketa Community College in her early adult years and was an avid learner.

Along with being a mother, she was sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and dedicated friend to many people. She was fiercely protective of her family and friends, was humorous, kind, warm-hearted, and always opened her home to her friends and family. She was immensely loved by her many nieces and nephews and there was nothing she would not do for them. Family was everything to Susan.

Family and her children are what drove Susan to be the best she could be, but the strength of who she was came from her cultural identity as a Native American woman. To her, there was nothing more beautiful and honoring than being an Indigenous person which she avidly expressed to all who knew her, especially her children.

There was only one other love Susan had aside from her children, family, indigenous identity, and friends, and that is she was a loyal Las Vegas Raiders fan, although she started as an Oakland Raiders fan. Regardless of where the team was located, she was Raider Nation 4 Life! She loved the Raiders! Win or lose, she remained a Raiders fan all her life.

Susan was never married but she is survived by her children, Lilyana and Travis Kinsley, mother: Sherry Poitra, brothers: Eli Kinsley, Francis Franco, Joshua Franco, and Jorge Franco, sisters: Alexandria Kinsley, Marissa Ochoa, and Melissa Franco, Aunts: Natalie Ramos and Rolanda “Peggy” Briseno, uncle: Christopher Wilkie, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who she loved

Susan was preceded in death by her father: Travis Kinsley, grandparents: Mary Poitra, Fred Kinsley and Edna Kinsley, and Susan Manuel, uncles: Kevin Poitra, Terry Poitra, Jasper Kinsley, Fred Kinsley Jr., aunts: Catherine Kinsley, Lois Kinsley, Barbera Poitra, and Lita Redhorn.

Services for Susan will be held at Virgil T. Golden, 605 Commercial St SE, Salem, OR 97301 on September 7th, 2025 from 10 AM to 1 PM. Services will be streamed on the following link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c25098739340120

A meal and celebration of life be provided at the Salem Lodge No. 4 AF&AM, 1625 Brush College Rd. NW, Salem, Oregon 97304.