Margaret Susan "Sue" Swartley

Margaret Susan “Sue” Swartley, of Souderton, passed away on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at her residence. She was 69.

She was the beloved wife of Donald N. Swartley for 51 years.

Born in Sellersville, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Perna (Gerhart) Rausch. Sue was a 1971 graduate of Pennridge High School.

Mrs. Swartley retired from Merck, Sharp, and Dohme after 20 years, having worked as an animal care technician. When her children were young, she had also worked for 27 years as a server at the R & S Keystone Diner, Telford.

An avid traveler, Sue and her husband had enjoyed yearly summer vacations in Brigantine, NJ, a trip to the Florida Keys, frequent trips to Washington D.C. and Oregon, a winter sleigh ride in Vermont, and a Route 6 journey across Pennsylvania. Internationally, they had journeyed to Cameroon, Africa, Suriname, in South America, and Haiti, all while visiting their sons who were in the Peace Corps or various government positions.

Sue loved to cook and had enjoyed hosting all holiday family gatherings. She loved being out in nature, whether working in her garden, enjoying walks on the beach and in local parks, or spending time on the lake with her husband.

Time spent with her family was of the utmost importance to Sue, and over the years, she delighted in attending all of the many activities of her children and grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Swartley is survived by her three sons: Donald Ben Swartley, of Souderton, Joshua Swartley and his spouse, Laura Foster, of Quakertown, and Ian N. Swartley and his wife, Melissa, of Sellersville; seven grandchildren: Steen Emerson Swartley, Camille Foster-Swartley, Miriam Foster-Swartley, Jude Foster-Swartley, Zoe Swartley, Akela Swartley, and Sonya Swartley; two brothers: Robert F. Holly, of Souderton, and Joseph F. Rausch and his wife, Cary, of Telford; and a sister, Perna Hipp, and her husband, Joe, of Perkasie.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Abbie Jean Brown.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 28, in the Betty Meier Steeley Funeral Home, 87 North Main Street, Sellersville, PA 18960 beginning at 10 a.m. with a sharing of memories following at 12 p.m.

Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Sue’s name may be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, 5526 West 13400 South, #510, Herriman, UT 84096 or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or to Doylestown Health Foundation - Doylestown Hospice, 595 West State Street, Doylestown, PA 18901.