Susan E. Tingley

Susan Elaine Tingley, 65, recently of Lawson, MO passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2019, in Liberty, MO. Sue was born February 8, 1954, in Binghamton, NY to the late Wilson and Beverly (Kohn) Tingley. Growing up in New Milford PA was filled with music, sports, and volunteering. Her interest in nursing was sparked as a Candy Striper at Barnes-Kasson Hospital and her participation in a 4-H summer exchange program to Yorkshire England initiated her love of travel and lifelong friendships. At Blue Ridge High School, she joined the basketball team, played trombone in the band and sung in the Junior and Senior choirs. After her graduation in 1972, she pursued her travel-lust as a Rotary Exchange student at Adelaide Nursing school at in Wagga-Wagga, Australia. Upon her return she attended the Thomas Jefferson School of Nursing where she earned her nursing license in 1976. She immediately started working at Philadelphia Hospital. She later worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at Quakertown Hospital in Pennsylvania and Kennedy Hospitals in New Jersey. As a NICU Nurse, Sue cared for tiny children for nearly 40 years with compassion and expertise. She kept current with the fast-changing field and, to their benefit, preferred to deal with the “really-sick babies”. Upon her retirement in 2014, she marveled at the advances in care she witnessed in almost 4 decades of nursing. Volunteering was one of many things that held a special place in Susan’s heart. She traveled frequently with the World Health Organization and attending conferences for the Neonatal Nurses Association, taking her to exotic locations such as India and Thailand to provide and learn about neonatal nursing services. She sponsored multiple children through both the American Indian foundation and the World Children’s Fund and delighted in corresponding with them and watching them become successful. In addition to saving people, Sue rescued animals. She was a strong supporter of the Greyhound Rescue Project and truly spoiled her three greyhounds. Her family marveled at her compassion for her gerbils, guinea pigs and other creatures under her care, but she loved her dogs, especially her afghan-hound Zuba, best. She discovered alpacas around 1990 and immediately embarked on a plan to adopt the “alpaca-lifestyle”. She spent years developing a herd in PA and NJ. After her retirement from Kennedy hospital in 2014, she and Paul moved to Missouri to start the Purple Post Alpaca farm. As a world traveler, Sue embarked on many adventures. Studying in Australia, visiting friends in Europe, volunteering in India, cruising in Alaska, touring Israel with her mother and reuniting with family in Japan and Germany. She was adventuresome, determined, and fun-loving. She leaves behind: her loving partner of 38 years, Paul Smith of Lawson, MO; her sister: Janice Adams of New Jersey and niece Laura Adams and her sister Debra Jean (Glynn) Grace who reside in Europe; and cousins: Beverly, Darlene, and Mark. Predeceased include brother-in-law Charles F Adams III; and sister Barbara Tingley-Nettleship. Funeral services will be held at Tuttle-Yeisley Funeral Home in Hallstead, Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. The family will gather in the funeral home from 10-11, prior to the service.

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Susan E. Tingley

February 8, 1954 - March 19, 2019