Susan Carole Eggleston

Eggleston, Susan Carole Mills

Better known as “Hon, Mom, Gram, Grammy Dear, Aunt Susan, and Susan” all titles she held close to her heart, but I cannot tell you which of these was her favorite because she had a special way of making everyone feel like they were her favorite. Susan was a role model for wonderful supportive wife; strong, loving, and accepting mother; accepting, but challenging mother-in-law; doting, bragging, encouraging gram; motherly, savvy older sister; crazy, fun aunt; and tell me everything friend. Susan lost her battle with pulmonary fibrosis on May 12, 2021 at the age of 76 in Albuquerque, NM surrounded by her husband, Ralph, and children Stacey and Trevor.

Susan will be lovingly remembered by her husband of fifty-seven years, Ralph; her children, Stacey (Richard) Hall, Trevor Eggleston (Kendra); son-in-law, Bud Tuttle; grandchildren, Connor Hall (Nalynn), Brayden (Tyler) Goodwin, Brennen Tuttle, Payton Hall, Tres Tuttle, Reagan Gasser; great-grandson, Tripp Hall; siblings, Michael (Bonnie) Mills, Barbara (Kenny) Rhines, Linda (Tom) Quirk, Tim (Donna) Vanlandingham, Kurt (Kelle) Vanlandingham; sister in-law, Cheri (Frank) Gullick; and many cherished nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews.  She is predeceased by her daughter, Tiffany Eggleston-Tuttle.

Susan Carole Mills was born to Bill and Fleeta Mills in Albuquerque, NM on Friday, January 19, 1945. She was the oldest of six children. Susan took her oldest position with pride and helped to nurture the younger children as they grew. After losing her father at the age of six and her mother at the age of 18, she was insistent on keeping her siblings close. The group of six have remained close and loving throughout their lives.

Susan attended Highland High School from 1959 to 1963. It was during this time that a car accident led her to meeting the love of her life, a Sandia High School boy, Ralph Eggleston. She played many roles during these years; student, girlfriend, sister, and caregiver to younger siblings as their mother was often sick and in the hospital. Susan and Ralph married on April 4, 1964 in a small ceremony at Belair Baptist Church in Albuquerque, NM.

The couple went on to have three children: Tiffany, Stacey, and Trevor whom she dedicated her life to. Her role as mother was her life’s dream and she was the best of the best. She always supported and nurtured anything they wanted to do, as long as it didn’t happen before 10 a.m. The family built many memories visiting family in California and Texas, water skiing at Elephant Butte Lake, snow skiing all over, but a favorite was Beaver Creek. Trips to Hawaii, Colorado, and RV trips up the coast were some of her favorites.

Susan supported Ralph in every aspect as he worked hard to provide for his family. They had an amazing 57 years of adventure and fun with trips to Mexico, Europe, and many other places. Both Susan and Ralph knew they were not the easiest people to be married to, but they knew some things were worth fighting for and always fought for their marriage together. Their friend network through these years was a special one with cherished lifelong relationships created.

Anyone who knew Susan knew there were only two things she woke up early for. Number one, an airplane for an amazing trip or two the birth of a grandbaby. She was front and center at the birth of all her five grandchildren. Of all her roles in life this one was her true calling. Her grandchildren called her “Gram” or “Grammy Dear” when they really wanted something. She could calm a fussy baby, a fit throwing toddler, or a teenager mad at their mom better than anyone around. She encouraged and guided them all with just a listening ear. Her grandchildren all thought she hung the moon and would do anything to make her proud. She just missed meeting her first great grandson, Tripp by a couple weeks, but we know how much she would adore him and how he would have loved her snuggles. Susan was truly in her happy place holding a baby, with a glass of wine and bag of M&M’s close by.

Susan fought pulmonary fibrosis for many years before losing her battle on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. It was a disease that slowly took away the things people take for granted. The ability to breath on your own is not something she took lightly and after losing her daughter, Tiffany to breast cancer on October 1, 2014, Susan’s fight became even harder. Ralph was her caregiver, meeting every need with dignity and respect for the remainder of her life. She told us often what a special man he was and how blessed she was to have him. We could not agree more or be more thankful for the way he loved “his girl” more than anything in the world.

The family would like to send a special thank you to Compassus Hospice Facility especially Nurse Reyna for her dedication, compassion, and kindness.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at two o'clock on June 4, 2021 at French-Lomas, interment to follow at Sunset Memorial, and reception at 2019 Sydney Lane NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107. Memorial donations in Susan's name may be made to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.