Susan Mead Geddes

Susan Dunbar Geddes was born on March 16, 1963 in Bridgeport, Connecticut to parents David H. Dunbar and Marjorie Anne (Smith) Dunbar.  She passed away peacefully in her home in Plano, Texas on the evening of May 12, 2021, surrounded by her family.

Upon graduation from high school in Houston, Texas in 1981, Susan headed to the University of Texas at Austin where she followed her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher.  A fiercely proud Longhorn and lover of everything UT, she graduated with a BS in Education in 1985, ready to start cultivating young minds!  Until a teaching position became available in the Plano Independent School District (PISD), Susan worked as a waitress at Chili’s, one of her favorite restaurants. Susan served as a substitute teacher whenever possible to keep her skills fresh.  During this period, she bought her first car, a spunky little teal Toyota Corolla (with a manual transmission), and purchased her first home, in which she took great pride.

Within a year, Susan’s dream job was realized when PISD offered her a teaching position.  Susan accepted, marking the beginning of a successful 35-year career, one in which she loved going to work every day.  First working in elementary Special Education, then as an elementary classroom teacher, and later moving into Resource and Reading Specialist roles. She worked at Baron, Hedgecoxe, Meadows, Sigler and ultimately Hunt elementary schools. Susan was always a highly sought-after and valued member of the faculty no matter where she worked.  Her accomplishments were many, including membership in Delta Kappa Gamma, Iota Omega Chapter (an honorary society of teaching excellence, where she held a number of offices and received several awards). She also received Beginning Teacher of the Year (Baron 1986/87), Teacher of the Year (Hedgecoxe 1991/92), Plano Association of Texas Professional Educators Elementary Teacher of the Year (2000/01), and Plano ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year (2005/06).  A 2-week teacher exchange trip to Japan in conjunction with the latter recognition was a true highlight of her career. It was an experience that she treasured, particularly the bond she forged with the host family. This recognition also included the use of a new Lexus for the entire summer. Always striving to perfect her craft, Susan added a Master’s in Elementary Education (University of North Texas), and a certification in Dyslexia (Scottish Rite Hospital, Dallas) to her resume.  More important to Susan than any professional accolades, were her students. She was beloved by them, their parents, and her co-workers.  Susan adored what she did, and it showed.  She taught with love, pure and profound, and the true extent of the impact that she has had on her thousands of students over the years is simply immeasurable.

On the personal side, Susan was a woman of many interests and passions, and her light shone brightest while enjoying them in the company of friends and family.  The Texas Rangers, the Longhorns, her miniature Schnauzers, involvement in her church, crafting, music, dancing, and gardening reflect her fun and exuberant spirit.

She loved family above all else and is survived by her much beloved husband and devoted partner of 21 years, Tom Geddes of Plano, Texas.  Other surviving family members include her father, David Dunbar and his wife, Martha Dunbar, of Fairview, Texas; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Monte and Erma Geddes of Mediapolis, Iowa; sister, Kim Martinez and brother-in-law, George Martinez, of Weston, Florida; brother, Jeff Dunbar and sister-in-law, Lisa Dunbar of Tomball, Texas; sister, Kristen Butler and brother-in-law, John Butler, Jr. of Plano, Texas and her brother-in-law, Brett Geddes of Plano, Texas.  Susan was aunt extraordinaire to 8 nieces and nephews. They and their spouses loved her as a friend, mentor, and cheerleader. They are, in order of birth:  Ashley Dunbar Regens (Matthew Regens) of Tomball, Texas; Ignacio Procel (Elizabeth Procel) of Dallas, Texas; Miles Procel (Jasmine Barber) of Bluffton, South Carolina; Eric Dunbar (Madison Dunbar) of Tomball, Texas; Shelby Butler of Plano, Texas, Shayne Butler of Lubbock, Texas, Sheridan Butler of Plano, Texas and Shawn Butler of Plano, Texas.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, June 6, 2021, from 4:00 - 6:00pm at Allen Family Funeral Options.

The Memorial Service will be Monday, June 7, 2021 at 2:00pm at The First United Methodist Church, 3160 E. Spring Creek Parkway in Plano. All are invited to come and share this time of fellowship, remembrance and celebration of Susan’s exceptional life. For those who cannot attend in person, please join us on Live Stream at: https://fumcplano.org/livestream-service

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations, in Susan's name, be made to the following charity for pancreatic cancer research: https://lustgarten. org/donate/