Susan Hays Wallace, 61, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Susan was a devoted wife to Greg, a loving mother to her two sons Kristofer (Rowina) and Matheau, an energetic and joyful grandmother to her two grandsons, Isaac and Benjamin, and a proud aunt. Susan had the biggest heart and was incredibly dedicated and invested in helping the communities that she was a part of. She divided her time between Katy and Port O’Connor, and fully immersed herself in a life of service. She volunteered her time to many organizations. She wanted to make the world a kinder and more fun place to be and made it her mission to spread the love around. She made people feel seen and valued. In 2020, while the world was on lockdown, she spent her time creating dozens of beautiful flower arrangements and quietly delivering them on doorsteps to brighten the recipient’s day. She drew chalk paintings on driveways with messages of hope, love, and kindness so that people would look out their window and have something to smile about. She was the first person to offer help to anyone in need and would often be seen assisting people with broken down golf carts, lost dogs, and all else during her daily runs. She was always ready to mingle, dance and laugh. She was a people person that would bring friends together by hosting outdoor movie nights, campfires, floral arrangement classes, wine tasting, and anything that she could think of to have people slow down and enjoy life a little more. She created a POC swim program and taught hundreds of children and adults patiently and skillfully. She made it her mission to teach as many people as she could how to swim, regardless of their limitations. She created scholarships for those that could not afford lessons so that there was equal accessibility. Coach Susan was adored by all the children that she taught. She donated all her swim program proceeds back into her community. In 2023 alone, her donations from swimming lessons were distributed to Mid Coast Sea Turtle Rescue, Texas Floating Classroom, Calhoun County ISD Band, Mary Jo Peckham Park Outreach Program, American Heart Association, Shriners Children’s Hospital- Galveston, The Harbor Children’s Alliance Domestic Violence Center of Port Lavaca, Port O’Connor Community Service Club, Port O’Connor Cemetery Association, Port O’Connor Community Center, Port O’Connor Elementary, Port O’Connor Library, Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, Calhoun County Senior Citizens Association Meals on Wheels Program, and The United Way Born Learning Trail at Port Lavaca’s Tilly Park. She was often seen greeting everyone at the POC Farmer’s Market with her freshly baked dewberry cobbler and lovely flower arrangements with the proceeds going directly to the POC Service Club. She was an avid athlete who trained extensively. She was known for her long bike rides, intense swims, marathon running and challenging herself to experience something new. The weekend before she passed, Susan completed the Galveston Ironman, finishing 22nd in her division. Susan was an exceptional person, a dedicated volunteer, a loyal friend and made the world a better place. She lived her life with integrity, compassion, and honesty. She will be missed immensely by her friends, family and by everyone that she taught, inspired, and listened to. The beauty that she infused into this world will live on as her legacy. There will be a public service at the Schmidt Funeral Home, 1344 W. Grand Parkway South in Katy, Texas, 77494 at 11:00 a,m, on Saturday, April 27th, 2024 and a Port O’Connor Service at the POC Community Center at 1:00 p.m. on May 5th, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you send a donation to the charity of your choice to honor Susan.

Written by Michelle Marlin, Photo by Lea Ann