Susan Jennings Moyer, 83

Longtime community builder and visionary, Susan Moyer, passed away on Aug. 7, 2021, at Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell.

Despite many health challenges, Susan made a point of trying to touch the lives of those around her by being positive and encouraging. Her infectious, joyful spirit was a gift to all of her care providers, friends and family members. As her circle of influence narrowed, her living motto “brighten someone’s day” continued to expand.

Susan was born in Rochester, New York, on March 4, 1938, to Helen Rockefeller Jennings and Clarence Jennings. As a result of her father serving in the U.S. Navy, Susan lived in a variety of communities throughout her childhood. She graduated from San Lorenzo High School in San Lorenzo, California, and later earned a business degree from San Jose State University. Susan was married twice (Vincent Bagan and later Paul Moyer — both now deceased).

She moved to Florida where her parents retired. During that time Susan worked for Martin Marietta, a defense contractor, as well as other positions that would prepare her for her future work in the Flathead Valley.

Susan traveled from Florida to the Flathead Valley to visit a friend and fell in love with Northwest Montana. Together with her young daughter Shannon and her mother Helen, they built a house in Lakeside where Susan raised her daughter and cared for her mother until her passing. Her Lakeside home was Susan’s favorite place on earth with its panoramic views and peaceful setting. Susan requested her ashes be scattered in the bay that could be seen from that home.

Susan faced many challenges in her personal life. As a single parent she often held two jobs in order to make ends meet. Working as a night auditor at the Outlaw Inn and as a full-time job as a secretary during the day, she worked her way through the ranks until she found her niche at the City of Kalispell.

Susan served the City of Kalispell for over 28 years with deep passion and commitment and became the community development director. She loved her work and the impact that it made for Flathead Valley. During her tenure Susan secured over $19.2 million in grant funding for economic development, housing, and nonprofit projects. Some of those projects she was most proud of included the construction and expansion of the Samaritan House — the local homeless shelter; the creation of the current Head Start facility; the Flathead Youth Home — a shelter for teens; as well constructing semi-independent apartments for clients of Flathead Industries. Susan managed the renovation of the United Way, which is now owned by Agape (Epaga) Home Care on Appleway Drive. She loved interior design and brought this gift into the wide variety of projects she championed.

Susan worked with the Kalispell City Council to create a revolving loan program for small businesses to impact job creation and new venues in downtown Kalispell. She was instrumental in bringing multiple government agencies and private companies together to re-develop a portion of the Gateway West Mall that later attracted a major employer to the Flathead Valley creating hundreds of new jobs.

Susan was a tireless advocate for individuals and families struggling to find affordable housing in Northwest Montana. Responding to this unmet need, Susan, together with Steve Van Helden of Glacier Bank, was instrumental in creating the First Time Home Buyers Program that assisted over 336 families in buying their first home and the Glacier Affordable Housing Foundation in conjunction with Glacier Bank. These programs served disadvantaged families providing home ownership and rehabilitation. Other housing projects for seniors and low to moderate income individuals were made possible through collaborations with the local United Way and Community Action Partnership.

Concerned about affordable housing for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, Susan developed new construction and rehab projects including Courtyard Apartments, The Fernwell Apartments, Glacier Manor, Center Court Manor, Big Sky Manor, Teton Terrace, and the rehabilitation of many single-family homes and apartments complexes in Northwest Montana. A bench and plaque naming the courtyard as Susan’s Place graces Center Court Manor’s courtyard.

Nothing motivated Susan more than competing for grants and securing those grants to make a difference in other people’s lives. She loved winning at everything. Once a grant was secured and another facility built, she enjoyed hosting the grand openings. She planned every detail of those events and welcomed leaders throughout the community to show off the project and tell the story of how lives would be changed as a result of the new facility.

Susan gave generously of her time serving on many community boards and committees including an appointment by Governor Judy Martz to the Montana Board of Housing; the Affordable Housing Advisory Council for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle; Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Clinic board and the United Way board. She participated in United Way’s annual Citizens Review panels and served on its allocation process. She also chaired the Northwest Montana Emergency Food & Shelter board. Susan served on the original steering committee to study the development of a community center for not-for-profit agencies — now the Gateway Community Center. She was grateful to Alcoholics Anonymous and the support this fellowship made on the lives of many in the community. After her retirement Susan volunteered with Kalispell Regional Healthcare’s volunteer program serving as a greeter and receptionist.

Susan was honored to have received the Community Building Award from United Way & D.A. Davidson & Co; United Way’s Volunteer of the Year Award; the HUD Excellence in Housing Award for the Courtyard (low income rentals) Apartments; Flathead Industries Award for her work in expanding independent living units for the disabled; NeighborWorks award for serving as a founding member of the Glacier Affordable Housing Network; Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle for her service on the Affordable Housing Advisory Council; HUD’s Certificate of National Recognition for fostering public and private partnerships using CDBG funding; the Montana Housing Partnership Affordable Housing Lifetime Achievement Award; and the State of Montana Governor’s Citation for service to the City of Kalispell and the Montana Board of Housing. She was also nominated for the Skip Jason Community Service Award.

Susan was known for her competitiveness, tenaciousness, unstoppable energy, stubbornness, and spunky sense of humor that made others laugh. Susan dressed to the “nines.” Everything she wore had to match. She enjoyed using big words, testing authority, and proving that she was right. She lived with a sense of mischief. If she could shock you with a statement that you never dreamed would come out of the mouth of this classy, petite woman — she would do it and she loved it.

Some of her favorite things were jazz music, a cup of extremely hot coffee first thing in the morning with biscotti, and tending to her extraordinary flowers in her garden. She enjoyed fashion, collecting unusual sunglasses, oversized purses, earrings, watches, and the latest in shoes. Susan enjoyed cooking and was passionate about Christmas. Over the years she collected thousands of ornaments for her theme-based Christmas trees.

She was preceded in death by her parents Helen and Clarence Jennings, and her brother Stephen Jennings. Her only sibling Stephen Jennings lost his life in May of 1967 at Gio Lihn during the Vietnam War. Susan had always been proud of his service to his country and mourned the loss of her brother throughout her life.

A lifelong animal lover who favored the Shih Tzu breed, she grieved the loss of her beloved dog Yuki of 14 years who passed in March 2021.

Susan is survived by her daughter Shannon Moyer Montgomery and her husband Dr. Stuart Montgomery of Portland; granddaughters Charlee Mackey of Portland, and Kacie Mackey of Denver; grandsons Liam Montgomery of Colorado and Sawyer Montgomery who is serving in the Marines in Virginia.

Susan considered her greatest life accomplishment was that of raising and loving her daughter Shannon. She was most grateful to Shannon and her husband Stuart who supported her and loved her through the end days of her life.

Throughout her life she was immensely brave and faced difficult life challenges head on. In February 2021, Susan experienced a stroke that left her visually impaired. After her stroke she sold her home and moved to Buffalo Hill Terrace. She was fascinated with the process she was going through to recover from her stroke and wanted to know every detail of what was happening within her body. At the end of her life Susan made a courageous decision to stop dialysis. Susan faced death with the same energy and thoughtful organization as she did throughout her life.

As Susan began her journey to the other side she was filled with humbleness and gratitude. She was thankful for her long-term care providers at Dialysis, Inc., her care providers at Buffalo Hill Terrace assisted living unit, the medical team in the Hospice unit as well as the Logan Health medical hospital staff and the Rehabilitation Unit.

She felt she was blessed with her long-term relationships with her A-Team who supported her including Dr. Marise Johnson, Dr. Roger Barth, her palliative care coordinators Sara and counselor John Erickson. Other members of her team Doug Houtz, Dr. Dan Savage — her long-time veterinarian, attorney Erika Johnson, Jonene Bernhardt - Business Services, and her “administrative assistant” and friend of 30 years Sherry Stevens.

Special friends she leaves behind include Steve and Naine Van Helden, Lynn Moon, Emily and Matthew Zembake, JaCarla Corne, Suzanne Johnson and the members of the Dog Club, Lynn and Jim Hanz, and close neighbors in her housing development, as well as numerous special friends who remain anonymous.

Memorial contributions may be made in Susan’s name to Tunnels to Towers, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306; or the Samaritan House, 124 9th Avenue West, Kalispell, MT 59901.

A celebration of Susan’s life will be held on Friday, Sept. 10, at the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home at 525 South Main at 10:30 a.m. A reception will be held at Brannigan’s Pub immediately following the service.

Johnson-Gloschat is caring for the family.