Susan Kay Spencer

SUSAN KAY THORNHAM SPENCER, age 92, of Denver, Colorado, died January 24, 2026, surrounded by the loving presence of family members. She was born in Austin, Texas, on November 10, 1933, to Jesse Simeon Thornham and Sally Kate Pressley Thornham. She has one brother, J.S. “Sam” Thornham of Denver, Colorado. Susan lived in Austin, Dallas and Abilene, Texas, before her family moved to Oklahoma City when she was fifteen. She graduated from Oklahoma City’s Classen High School in 1952. She is a graduate of the last class of Oklahoma A& M College in 1956, after which, it became known as Oklahoma State University. Susan married John Riley Spencer of Coalgate, Oklahoma, an A& M graduate in 1955, on August 11, 1956. They were married 63 years, until John’s death in 2019. The couple settled in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, after living in El Paso, Texas; Zweibrucken, West Germany; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Susan was a housewife and preschool teacher, a long-time volunteer for the Margaret Hudson Program as a hugger and for Meals on Wheels. She was an active member of St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church for many decades, before moving to Denver, Colorado just a few years ago. Susan taught preschool in St. Stephen’s weekday school for 12 years and taught preschool Sunday School for many years as well. She was also an active member of United Methodist Women. As friendships were numerous and a lifelong source of support and joy to Susan, she, in turn, is remembered as having been a close and loving friend to so many. Her sweet smile and unique infectious laugh will be sorely missed. Susan was predeceased by her husband, John, their infant son, John David Spencer, her parents and her beloved niece, Kate Thornham. She is survived by her son Robert, a retired physician in Denver, Colorado, and his wife Tammy; son James, an architect in Dallas, Texas, and his wife Stacy; and by her son, Todd, a United Methodist minister, spiritual director and leadership coach in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and his wife Debi. She has six grandchildren: Matthew, Madeline, Bobby, Brenna, Lukas and Ethan. She is also survived by her brother, Sam; two nieces, Hilary Thornham and Alena Jo Arnold Gleason, and two nephews, Kyle Thornham and Patrick Thornham. Funeral services, under the direction of Hayhurst Funeral Home, will be conducted at Hayhurst’s Chapel in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on Saturday, February 7 at 11:00 AM. The Rev. Dr. Sam Powers, a friend of Susan’s son, Todd, will be officiating. Susan’s final resting place will be in the National Cemetery at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, Susan’s wishes were for donations to be made to the Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care through St. Stephen’s UMC, 400 W. New Orleans, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, 74011.

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Susan Kay Spencer

November 10, 1933 - January 24, 2026