Suzanne Mary Davis, 68, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2026, at home surrounded by her family after a hard-fought battle with breast cancer. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish (14251 Nall Ave, Leawood, Kansas, 66223) at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026, with visitation prior, beginning at 10:00 am.
Suzanne was born June 1, 1957, in St. Louis to Kenneth and Nancy Luecke, who preceded her in death. She is survived by her beloved husband, Murray Davis; her four children, Ted (Mindy), Tim (Megan), Andy (Courtenay), and Carrie; her five cherished grandchildren, Max, Leo, Sophie, Penny, and Murray; her siblings, Chris (Nancy) Luecke and Maureen McAnarney; her aunt, Alice Kluba; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and her grand-dogs, Biscuit, Birdie, Bunny, and Arnie.
Suzanne met her husband, Murray, when they were both students at the University of Kansas. After graduation from KU, they reconnected in Kansas City and began dating, soon becoming inseparable and ultimately marrying in June of 1980. They shared 46 years of marriage, including four children, five grandchildren, three golden retrievers (four if you count Biscuit), and various homes in three different states. Through it all, Suzanne and Murray supported and loved each other, and Murray was by her side until the end.
Suzanne was also blessed with many friends throughout her life. While at KU, Suzanne gained a close circle of friends at the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, who became a constant and irreplaceable presence in her life in the decades that followed. She continued her regular coffee and breakfast visits with them even through the more difficult stretches of treatment. Suzanne likewise made many close friendships throughout all the other phases of her life, including with her neighbors, and especially her coworkers at the Nativity Parish School.
Following school, consistent with her lifelong impulse to help those less fortunate, Suzanne began her career as a social worker. She eventually dedicated herself fulltime to raising her four children. Later in life, Suzanne went back to school and obtained her teaching degree and then spent many years teaching various grades at Nativity Parish School in Leawood, where she was well-loved by all of her students and colleagues, and where she likewise valued her colleagues and the support they provided. A devout catholic, Suzanne found strength in her beliefs throughout her life, providing her comfort during her treatments and at the end of her life.
Her passion for religion was matched by her love of gardening. Throughout every phase of life, and even in her last weeks, she never stopped tinkering in the yard or giving helpful “guidance” to Murray and anyone else within earshot about what needed to be done in the garden.
But by far her greatest love in the last years of her life was her grandchildren. Even when the cancer and the treatments had rendered her virtually immobile, she found the strength to get out of bed and be with her grandchildren during holidays, birthdays, and any other time the grandkids wanted to see her. The number of sporting events, dance recitals, and gymnastics meets she attended while battling cancer is a testament to the love she had for her grandkids, and to her formidable will. The courageousness she showed in the face of her diagnosis, treatment, and in her final days, was astounding.
Suzanne was deeply loved by her family and friends, and she will be deeply missed.
Suzanne’s family would like to especially thank Dr. Anne P. O’Dea of KU Medical Center, as well as her staff and nurses, and also the nurses of Gentiva hospice care, for the extraordinary and compassionate care they provided to Suzanne. Likewise, her family would like to thank the leadership and staff of both the Nativity Parish School and Church of the Nativity, who showed Suzanne such kindness and grace during her time there.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be made to the St. Michael’s Rosary Garden or to breast cancer research.
