Susan (Suzy) Elizabeth Gilbert went to be with the Lord on August 15th, 2026, after a long battle with her health. She was born on December 6th, 1954, in Salina, KS to Lester and Pearl Ebert, who preceded her in death. She married Patrick Jenkins on December 28th, 1976, they had two daughters and later divorced.

She married Raymond (Ray) L. Gilbert in Chillicothe, MO on January 1st, 2000. They made their home in Brunswick, MO, where she was a 3rd grade teacher for Brunswick R II school. In 2001 Ray and Suzy made their way to Parsons, KS where Suzy was an elementary school teacher for 17 years, settling in as a 3rd grade teacher for USD 503.

Prior to becoming a teacher, she was elected tax collector for 10 years and was the owner of Jenkins Signs. She also was a substitute teacher for many years. Suzy was a very gifted artist and loved to paint with acrylic and watercolors. In later years she painted portraits of pets on rocks as a memorial for those who have lost pets. She also did macramé and enjoyed decorating and remodeling homes. Suzy was and independent, outgoing and social woman who made friends and touched lives throughout her own lifetime.

She also enjoyed the occasional trip to the casino and live rock concerts. She loved to read and work on jig-saw puzzles. After retirement, she started cleaning estates to prepare them for sale. There was no job she was afraid to tackle. She would even help Ray work on wells in the oil & gas field.

She was a two-time breast cancer survivor and wore a pink strand in her hair as a reminder to herself of the fighter she was. In 2020, Ray and Suzy moved to Andover, KS to be closer to Ray’s work. This was just as covid was hitting. In early 2022, she was hit hard with covid and was never able to fully recover. This last year, she made her home in The Mapleton Assisted Living Center in Andover. She fought so long and hard and eventually succumbed to the strains of lasting illness.

She leaves behind her husband Ray of the home, her sister Barbara Rubin and her husband Mark, of Washington Crossing PA, daughter Jami Sanders and her partner Thomas Gagnon, of Falmouth MA., Erin Jenkins-Blevins and husband Jonathan of Columbia, MO., Step-daughter Randi Tyson and husband J.C. of Colorado Springs, CO., Step-son Eric Gilbert of Aurora, CO., one Step-grandson, one step-great-granddaughter, and seven grandchildren, along with hundreds of students she taught over the years, as well as friends and extended family members.

A celebration of life will be held at the Carson-Wall funeral home in Parsons, KS at 6:00PM on August 28th. Internment will be at a later date.

Memorials may be sent to:

Parsons USD 503

“Suzy Gilbert Memorial Library Fund”, (in memo)

PO Box 1056, Parsons, KS 67357.