Suellen Har vey Houchin
May 8, 1939 - January 27, 2024
Suellen Harvey Houchin, age 84, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2024, with her loving family at her side. She was born May 8, 1939, in Longmont, Colorado, and was the youngest of four children born to the late William and Frieda Harvey. Suellen graduated from Longmont High School, where she participated in the high school band, playing both the obo and piano. She continued her education at William Woods College in Fulton, MO, where she met her husband, John Houchin. After completing her degree at the University of Tulsa, she taught high school History and English. Following John's graduation, they made their home in Tampa, FL where Suellen continued to teach until the arrival of their first child, John III. New job opportunities moved them to the east Coast of Florida where they welcomed their second child, Julie, while they were residing in North Palm Beach.
Suellen was a wonderful mother and she raised her family in Palm Beach Gardens where her home quickly became the center of all delightful neighborhood activities. Mrs. "H" became a surrogate mom to many, while providing her famous "Mexican Heros" to hungry teenagers. In the moments that the house was quiet and peaceful, she enjoyed needlepoint, reading, and floating in the swimming pool. Suellen lovingly gave back to her community through supporting charities, especially, Younglife. With an adventurous spirit, she enjoyed traveling cross country in their RV, flying to the Bahamas in John's Cessna, and riding on the back of a motorcycle along the winding mountain roads of Western North Carolina.
After her children graduated from High School she and John moved to Burnsville, NC, and later settled in Waynesville where she assisted her husband with the heating oil business. All the while welcoming the additions of her three grandchildren, Haley, JC, and Savannah. Suellen was very proud of her grandchildren, often attending far-flung sporting events and other activities they participated in while watching them grow into the young adults they are today.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, John M. Houchin, Jr.; a daughter, Julie Laurie; a son John M. Houchin, III; granddaughters, Haley Houchin and Savannah Laurie; a grandson, JC Houchin; a sister, Donna Rajewski and her children, Chris, David, Scott and Michelle Sills; nieces and nephews of Suellen's sister, the late Pat Markham, Ed Markham and wife, Mindy and Vicki Wilson and husband, Wade; nieces and nephews of Suellen's late brother, Jack, Derek Harvey and wife, Jane, Sharon Alexander and husband Todd and Kevin Harvey; cousins, Nancy O'hara and Sandy True. A memorial service will be held at 12:00PM on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at Lewis Memorial Park, 415 Beaverdam Rd., Asheville, NC 28804.
A celebration of life service will be held on May 4, 2024, at the home of John and Lori Houchin, 27 River Drive, Tequesta, FL, 33469.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38101 or online at http:// fundraising.stjude.org/ goto/suellen. Crawford / Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service is honored to be caring for the Houchin family and words of comfort may be shared at www.crawfordray.com