Susan Diane Kanyur

                                                                         1947 – 2025

Susan passed away December 25, 2025, in Tucson, AZ, after a long, courageous battle with COPD.

Susan was born in Chicago, IL. on May 2, 1947, to Melvin and Margaret Butler. She moved with her parents in the mid 1950’s to Delray Beach, Florida for a brief time, before moving to Tucson, Arizona in 1958. Susan graduated from Palo Verde High School and then attended and graduated from the University of Arizona in 1969, with a bachelor’s degree in literature. She married Michael A. Grace after graduation and started work with Southern Arizona Bank as a teller. She moved up the ranks within the bank and became an Operations Officer. Southern Arizona bank became First National Bank, which was bought out by First Interstate Bank. It is at that bank where she met Robert J Kanyur, who literally swept her off her feet. She worked for the bank until she retired in 1990 and moved to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where she married the love of her life, Bob. They designed and built their rustic dream mountain home, enjoying the flora and the fauna. Most of all, they loved the magnificent view of Pagosa Peak, afforded them by their large parcel of land, which also included an aspen grove. She was an avid reader and had an extensive book collection. Susan was well versed in trivia and would win the daily morning phone-in trivia question to the local rock and roll radio station, 2 or 3 times per week. She and Bob traveled much, and she especially loved their trips to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. They owned and operated Barnwood Crafts, selling his hand-made wood crafts all throughout Colorado, from wood harvested from old, abandoned barns. In addition, Susan volunteered at the local public library and the Pagosa Springs visitor center, where she made many new friends.

Susan moved back to Tucson in November 2024 for health reasons and to be close to her family. She is survived by her son Sean Grace, daughter-in-law Mariel Grace, stepson Jim Kanyur and granddaughter, Brianna Grace. Preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Margaret Butler and husband Bob Kanyur Susan’s memory lives on through all of us.

A private memorial service, with an ash spreading, will be held in Pagosa Springs, on their beloved property, summer 2026.