Susan Margaret D'Aoust, 71
Susan Margaret D’Aoust, 71, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010, in Clark Fork, Idaho.
Services will be held at a later date. Her wish is that you would take a silent moment to reflect or read your favorite poem in memory of her.
She was born on Aug. 9, 1939, in Ocean Falls, British Columbia, Canada, to Dr.’s George and Dorothy Saxton. She grew up and attended schools in Vancouver, BC, and graduated from Prince of Wales High School. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in psychology and English from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, in 1961.
Sue married Brian D’Aoust on Sept 12, 1959 at the Shaughnessy United Church in Vancouver.
They lived in San Diego, Calif., for six years and Sue worked for the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute under Carl Rogers. In 1972, she earned her teaching certificate from the University of Washington and taught school in Seattle before moving to Bainbridge Island, Wash. There she taught bread making classes and grew a large garden.
In 1977, Sue became a breast cancer survivor; at that time, she pursued her writing career and began publishing. Her accomplishments include “Long Shadows” published by E.P. Dutton, two books under the pseudonym Susan Shaw, and many poems and stories, including “Deoxy,” which won a Washington state fiction contest. In 1990, Sue and Brian purchased forestland and moved to Clark Fork, Idaho.
Susan was a member of the Clark Fork Valley Ambulance Board, the Idaho Forest Owners Association, and the Authors Guild. She enjoyed gardening, writing “Panhandle Pieces” for “The Spokesman-Review,” doing research for her novels, volunteering in the schools, and caring for her stewardship forest. Susan was a spiritually strong independent thinker who loved and adored her grandchildren and godson.
She is survived by her husband, Brian D’Aoust of Clark Fork; son, Anthony D’Aoust of Wrangell, Alaska, and Antarctica; daughter, Renee D’Aoust and husband Daniele Puccinelli of Lugano, Switzerland; two grandchildren, Cassiar and Aghileen; two sisters, Mary (Doug) Hardwick of Manotick, Ontario, and Jane Saxton of Nanaimo, British Columbia; special cousin Marian Sherrett of Richmond, British Columbia; and godson, Tyler Cochran of Sandpoint, Idaho.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one son Ian Lawrence D’Aoust in 2003.
Memorial donations may be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, PO Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Sue’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.