Sue Huff — 1954-2013

Longtime South Lake Tahoe resident Deborah Sue Huff died May 21. She was 59.

She was born April 4, 1954.

Sue and Curt Huff were married in their hometown of Benton Harbor, Mich., on Nov. 16, 1974. For their honeymoon they packed up their Chevy van and moved west to California.

They spent six years in Long Beach, where their two children were born, Dustin Huff (1975) and Jennifer Huff-Derks (1980).

Sue Huff

In fall 1980, they decided it was time for a new adventure and moved to South Lake Tahoe. The following year they experienced a true Tahoe winter. With obscene amounts of snowfall, the neighborhood banded together creating lasting friendships that eventually grew into their Tahoe family.

Sue worked for the Tahoe Daily Tribune for eight years. In that time more endearing friendships were made and their love for this community grew.

In 1988, Sue began to work for Lake Tahoe Community College. Sue worked at LTCC for 19 years before retiring in 2007. In that time she earned her associate of arts in Liberal Arts, a goal she worked hard for and was proud of achieving.

Sue was an avid outdoor enthusiast, spending summers exploring the Sierras, searching for hot springs and mountain lakes to camp by. Her love for singing songs with her kids as her husband played the guitar around the campfire has been carried on by her children.

When winter set in Sue enjoyed knitting while watching her family enjoy football or cross country skiing with friends.

In 2006, Sue was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. She did not let cancer slow her down. During the last seven years Sue has witnessed her daughter, Jennifer, marry Todd Derks in 2008 and her son, Dustin, marry to Hillary Wilson in 2009. She was the first to hold her three beautiful grandchildren, Attigen Wilson Huff (2010), Paxson Hill Derks (2012) and Anaya Sue Huff (2012).

Sue’s love of travel took her to Alaska, Hawaii, Bahamas, Nicaragua and all over the United States.

Sue will forever be missed by all those who knew her. Her beautiful smile would light up a room. Sue leaves a strong legacy of love behind with her husband, children and grandchildren.

Please join us in a celebration of life on May 26 at 2pm at Lake Tahoe Golf Course in Meyers to honor an amazing woman, mother, and wife.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Sue Huff’s name to: Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) or the I.A.T Cancer Clinic West, Atlantic Blvd., Freeport, Grand Bahamas.