Sue Tarter

My Life Story

Written by Sue Tarter

Sheila "Sue" Tarter was born October 11, 1957 in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Daniel "Buzz" Tarter and Dorothy "Bit" Alderson Tarter. Sue joined two older brothers, Allen and Bryan, on the 3 Mile Ranch near Ashland, Montana.

The three attended Ashland Public Grade School until Allen entered his freshman year of high school in Broadus, Montana. They then began the one way 32 mile on Hwy 212 bus ride for junior high and high school. Sue graduated with the Class of 1975.

In 1976, she married Clifford Kane in Broadus. During the marriage, they both completed Bachelor's of Science degrees at Montana State University. This union ended in divorce.

Sue moved to South Lake Tahoe, California, soon after where she worked for the City Recreation Department and studied for the American College of Sports Medicine Fitness Instruction Certification. Upon completion and passing the national testing, Sue started her own fitness consulting business in South Lake Tahoe. A client referred her to a Greek businessman in Sacramento, CA, and she was hired to work exclusively with his friend, Telly Savalas, in southern California. When the contract was up, Sue enrolled at Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo to begin her Master's of Science in Psychology. Sue graduated from Cal Poly in 1996 and moved back to South Lake Tahoe and began working part-time at Lake Tahoe Community College in the Student Services Department. Soon, Sue was hired full-time as the Director of Work Force Preparation. She supervised the Internship Program and in the next 4 years, that program won California's 3 top awards for 2 year college internship programs: Employer of the Year, Student of the Year, and Program of the Year.

Upon her father's passing in 2002, Sue resigned her faculty position but joined the study abroad that fall traveling to London, England. She then moved to the Sheridan, Wyoming area to spend time with her mom whose health had been failing. They shared many great years together including a trip to London with Blair Tarter and Jamie Tarter after their high school graduation.

In Sheridan, she worked at WYSTAR, a state recovery and treatment program, as the Client Resource Specialist. Sue developed their community integration program which is still used to this day. She then went to work for Sheridan College in the Admissions office as the Career and Testing Services Coordinator. During this time, their GED preparation and testing center won the Wyoming State Center of the Year award.

She was able to vacation in England again on two group tours seeing many beautiful gardens, castles, and famous works of art, and maybe a pub or two! Sue enjoyed many vacations to Palm Springs, CA, also.

After her mom passed in July of 2009, Sue decided to renew her Certified Nursing Assistant Certification and began working at Sugarland Ridge Assisted Living facility as a care assistant.

In the summer of 2015, she reunited with a high school friend, Galen Morton, when planning to attend her 40 year class reunion. Galen was pursuing his PhD Degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Sue joined him there and they were married June 18, 2016.

During the summer of 2016, Sue was diagnosed with systemic sclerosis which began to cause irreparable damage to her lungs. She was also diagnosed with ovarian cancer early in 2019, which prompted their move to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where Galen teaches at the Chippewa Valley Technical College. Sue began cancer treatments in Albuquerque and resumed them with Mayo Clinic Health Systems.

On August 21, 2020, Sue passed away at her home in Eau Claire, WI, due to complications from systemic sclerosis and interstitial lung disease.

Sue is preceded in death by her parents and grandparents. She is survived by her husband, Galen Morton, of Eau Claire, WI; her aunt, Alice McCarty, of Story, WY; her brother, Allen Tarter and his wife, Jackie, of the family ranch near Ashland, Montana; Allen's daughter, Jamie Sinks and husband, Tony, and children, Bailey and Marshall of Maynard, Nebraska; Allen's son, Adrian Tarter, of Gillette, WY; her brother, Bryan Tarter and wife, Shannon, and their daughter, Faith, of the family ranch near Ashland, MT; Bryan's son, Blair Tarter and wife, Cassie, and children, Banks and Evelyn, of Raleigh, North Carolina; Jackie Tarter's son, Justin Hackett and wife, Cheryl, and children, Gannet, Xavier, Jack, Loren, and Luke of Casper, WY: Galen's daughter, Francesca, his father, Marty Morton, Sr., and his three brothers, Marty Jr., Bryce, and Barry, and families, all of California; and her BFF, Kelly Childers Tonn, of Sidney, MT.

Sue has donated her remains to Mayo Health Services for medical research. Cremation will follow at a later date and a private family service will be held in the future.

In lieu of flowers, Sue requests you all consider registering as an organ, tissue, or blood donors in your state.