In Memory Of
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Mary Susan Burgoon Mathewson
Baileyville, Kansas
02/22/1938 - 02/19/2025
Mary Susan (Sue) Mathewson, age 86, formerly of Baileyville, KS, passed away peacefully at Homestead Assisted Living in Topeka, Kansas on February 19, 2025. Born February 22, 1938 to Harry and Verbula Burgoon in Dysart, Pennsylvania, she was the fourth of five children.
Susan’s childhood and teenage years were spent on her family’s farm in Pennsylvania. After earning her GED, Susan enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 and served until 1958. She enjoyed traveling in her younger years, living in New Jersey for a time, and also in California for seven years, where her brothers were stationed in the military. She greatly enjoyed spending time there, caring for her nieces and nephews, before moving back to her hometown in Pennsylvania. Susan was later introduced to her husband Marvin through an ad in the local Catholic newspaper in 1967. They corresponded across the miles, writing letters to each other for several years before meeting for the first time when he came to visit her in 1970. Susan moved to Baileyville, Kansas and on September 2, 1972 married Marvin Mathewson. They had two sons, Jason and Mark.
Susan enjoyed living in the country and living life on the farm. One of her great joys was cultivating a large garden each spring, trying her hand at growing all types of fruits and vegetables. She had quite the green thumb; harvesting potatoes, radishes, onions, carrots, watermelon, grapes, tomatoes, peppers, and sweet corn over the years. Susan was the heart of her family as a hard-working mother and homemaker. With her family, she shared not only her love of travel and working outdoors, but also her love of Elvis music, dedication to the Catholic faith, and adoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Preceded in death by her parents Harry and Verbula (Minges) Burgoon; brothers, Robert (Janet) Burgoon, Harry Burgoon, and Charles (Tom) Burgoon; and her husband of 48 years, Marvin Mathewson. Susan’s legacy is carried on by her two loving sons, Jason (Ann) Mathewson of Scranton, Kansas and Mark (Lisa) Mathewson of Kansas City, Missouri; grandchildren Brittany (Tiffany) Miller, Brianna (Curtis) Rogers, and Madeline Mathewson; and great-grandchildren Korbin Lynn, Kaiden Lynn, Finley Miller, and Emery Miller. She is survived by her brother James Burgoon, and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society or Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
A rosary will be prayed at 10:30 prior to the Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville.
A rosary will be prayed at 10:30 prior to the Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. Burial will be in the church cemetery next to her husband Marvin.
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I am so sorry for you and your family. There are no words that can be said to heal your pain, but she is in a better place.
I am one of those California nieces that Aunt Sue loved. I’m so thankful that she liked to spend time with us. I liked her taking us to the beach, going out for ice cream or shopping, and just talking to us. I will always be indebted to her love and care. It helped shape my life.
Since my Mom (Janet) was an only child, and since Aunt Sue had 4 brothers, she has been my only Aunt. While my Dad (Bob) did 2 tours in Vietnam, we lived with my Mom’s Mother in Cresson, but spent lots of weekends on the farm with Grandma and Grandad Burgoon. Aunt Sue was there during a lot of that time. She was my idol! She was just 23 years older than me, tall, thin, wore stylist clothes, and she was fun! She took us horseback riding, sled riding, fishing, ice cream at Noel’s, shopping in Altoona, teaching us card games, gave us a tour of the Boyer’s candy factory (I remember that day EVERY TIME I bite into a Mallo Cup!). I learned the lyrics to almost every Elvis song– and she had a cute dog named Elvis.
After leaving the farm, we connected with letters. She’d always include a prayer card or religious bookmarker with each letter) — and always closed her letter with a reminder to “stop and smell the roses.”
My Dad and I visited Grandma and Grandad after they moved from the farm and lived near Aunt Sue and Uncle Marvin in Kansas. She was always working outside, or doing something. She still loved the farm life. And she hadn’t changed … still looking for some fun (taking a quad-runner for a ride and going fast like crazy!).
I’ll be glad to have Aunt Sue now as another angel looking over me. And a friend is making a wall plaque to remind me “Stop and smell the roses.”
Rest in peace Aunt Sue!
My thoughts are with you and your family on your loss of an amazing woman, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother.
From James Burgoon, almost 94, and Aunt Sue’s last surviving brother, and her niece, Jamie. I read my Dad all of Aunt Sue’s story and showed him the pictures. He really enjoyed seeing all the pictures and talking about the fun memories. Much love and prayers to all the family today.