Suzanne Forsee Shaw

SUZANNE FORSEE SHAW

On June 26, 2026, our extraordinary mother, Suzanne Forsee Shaw, passed into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, where she was joyfully reunited with her beloved husband of 63 years, Bob Shaw.

Suzanne was born on November 10,1936, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, to Dr. William Thomas (Tommy) Forsee II and Edith Yager Forsee. At the time of her birth, Tommy was a chemistry professor at the university. When Suzanne was just one year old, the family relocated to Palm Beach County, Florida, after Dr. Forsee was appointed Director of the Florida State Agriculture Center in Belle Glade. There, the family quickly grew to six with the births of her three younger siblings - Molly, WT Forsee the III (Tom), and Fred. She enjoyed a joyous, spirited childhood, shaped by her parents’ deep love of God, one another, music, academics, science, travel, nature, animals, and a host of meaningful friendships.

An exemplary student from an early age, Suzanne graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and achieved the unprecedented distinction of earning the highest academic honors for all four disciplines: Mathematics, Science, English, and History. She went on to attend Florida State University, where she studied classical music before pursuing medicine, ultimately graduating at the top of her class with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

In August of 1959, Suzanne married the dashing and magnetic Bobby G. (Bob) Shaw, a mathematics professor, and together they began a remarkable 63-year love story filled with romance, adventure, and enduring devotion. Bob always said it was love at first sight when he saw Suzanne’s cheerful, dazzling smile - a defining characteristic that would become one her most beloved and enduring qualities throughout her life. They welcomed two children, Melanie Elyse and Gerald Grant, and faithfully served side by side at First Baptist Church of Boynton Beach. Suzanne shared her musical gifts as the church pianist and later organist, while Bob lifted his voice as the bass section leader of the choir.

Music was one of Suzanne’s greatest gifts, and her artistry and touch on the piano were especially sublime. Every week she devoted countless hours preparing for worship, filling the sanctuary with preludes and postludes featuring classical music and beloved hymns. She found joy in accompanying the choir, offering her gifts with humility, excellence, and deep devotion. Her music became an enduring expression of faith that inspired, comforted, and uplifted all who heard it.

After working as a registered nurse for three years, Suzanne chose to devote herself to raising their children. She created a home filled with unconditional love, nurturing, and encouragement, where Christian faith and principles formed the foundation of daily life. She fostered a deep love of learning, nature, dogs, imagination, reading, cooking, and adventure, while instilling accountability, independence, compassion, and strong character in her children.

Their love of learning naturally extended into family life. Every summer, they packed up the car and set off on education-oriented trips across the United States, visiting important historical landmarks, cities, and national parks. Their travels also included visits to Suzanne’s family’s Kentucky home, Maple Heights; time with her wonderful parents in the Smokey Mountains; and spending time with Bob’s family, especially his beloved cousins in North Carolina, where homemade peach and chocolate ice cream and Americana-style Fourth of July celebrations became cherished family traditions.

Their home was always open to family and friends, offering warm hospitality to countless guests over the years. Suzanne became “Mom” to many neighborhood children, whose favorite gathering place was always the Shaw home. Homemade Key limeade, made from fruit picked from her beloved Key lime tree, was generously served as she welcomed everyone with warmth, kindness, and an open heart. Suzanne shared her loving nature and unwavering support with so many of Melanie and Grant’s friends, many of whom formed lifelong bonds with her and Bob.

Suzanne was also an extraordinary cook, known for her homemade meals, gourmet dinner parties, and, especially, her unforgettable desserts (a nod to her own “sweet tooth”). Her brewed sweet tea with Key limes was both refreshing and legendary, and her famous deviled eggs were so scrumptious that fellow church members regularly requested them for special gatherings.

As Melanie and Grant entered high school, Suzanne returned to nursing, serving for another 20 years in the Labor and Delivery and OB-GYN Medical-Surgical departments at Bethesda Memorial Hospital. There, she combined exceptional clinical expertise with remarkable tenderness, lovingly caring for thousands of new mothers and their babies.

In later years, Suzanne and Bob cherished time in Tallahassee with Grant, his wife Kim, and their incredible granddaughters, Kari, Kathryn, and Kaylyn. They also treasured many visits to Kentucky to spend time with Melanie, her husband Stace, and Melanie’s wonderful in-laws, Linda and Phillip Ginn.

Together, Suzanne and Bob also explored the world, traveling to 47 countries across six continents. From the Australian Outback to all of Europe, South and Central America,

Russia, and China, they experienced many cultures, wonders of the world, and historical landmarks. Even into her late 70s, Suzanne eagerly rode camels, elephants, and even ziplined in the Columbian rainforest.

While Bob was known for his sharp wit, Suzanne possessed a unique and wonderful sense of humor. With impeccable timing, she would quietly deliver a hilarious observation that often left everyone charmed. She delighted in laughter and always preferred comedy shows and movies over drama. For more than six decades, Suzanne and Bob modeled a true partnership grounded in unwavering faith, enduring love, steadfast friendship, and mutual devotion. They set a beautiful example for their children, patients, students, and the world to witness.

In 2020, Melanie and Stace purchased a home just around the corner from her parents so they could be nearby to support them and enjoy precious time together as they grew older. Following Bob’s passing in September 2022, Melanie and Grant considered it a great honor to care for their mother in a manner that respected and preserved her strong sense of independence. In early 2025, Suzanne moved into Melanie and Stace’s home in Boynton Beach, where she quickly became the heart of their family. There, she enjoyed spending endless hours on their lakeside porch birdwatching alongside their beloved Miniature Australian Shepherd pups and welcoming numerous friends who gathered to play cards and take “walks and talks” in the neighborhood.

Also in 2022, our mother became one of the founding members of Gospel City Church under the leadership of Pastor David McCaman and his beautiful wife, Jennifer. There, during the final season of her life, she experienced a loving church family who adored and embraced her. Through those countless renewed and newly formed friendships, she experienced a grace-filled level of support, fellowship, and fun as she learned to navigate life without Bob, and she loved them all deeply.

Over the past four years, even as her health slowly declined, her joy for life never diminished. She continued to enjoy numerous trips to Tallahassee to spend precious time with Grant, Kim, and her granddaughters. Each summer, Suzanne traveled with Melanie and Stace to their Kentucky farmhouse, where she developed an especially close bond with Stace’s parents. She also treasured the visits with her beloved sister and brothers, nieces, and nephews.

Suzanne never lost her sense of wonder or her delight in marveling at life’s “firsts.” In December 2025, she experienced her first White Christmas at the Ginn’s Kentucky farm, a memory she treasured. One of her greatest joys came just last month, in June, when she met her first great-granddaughter, beautiful Maeve.

Suzanne was constantly keeping her mind sharp and busy with her Sudoku, crossword and word search puzzles, and her favorite card game, SkipBo. Incredibly, she also maintained close friendships that spanned childhood, college, nursing, church, and every season of life.

As she had been throughout her whole life, Suzanne remained beautiful, brilliant, strong, faithful, courageous, humble, sweet, kind, positive, witty, adorable, and intrepid through the final years, months, days, and even hours - right up until she drew her last breath surrounded by her family, holding her hand, and entered into the kingdom of God, hearing “well done good and faithful servant.” While we miss her so very much, we are deeply grateful to know that she is now experiencing eternal joy in Paradise, with our dad, where “God has wiped away all tears; death, sorrow, and pain are gone forever.”

Suzanne is lovingly survived by her daughter, Melanie Ginn and her husband, Stacy (Stace); her son, Grant Shaw and his wife, Kim; her granddaughters Kari Fulford (Clay), Kathryn Fritz (Lucas), and Kaylyn Shaw; her great granddaughter, Maeve Fulford; her many beloved “grand-pups” and “great-grand-pups” who knew her as the best cuddler and giver of unlimited treats; her sister, Molly Cooke (Allen); her brothers Tom Forsee and Fred Forsee (Josie); her nieces and nephews; Molly’s children, Chris and Deanna; Tom’s children, Amy and Bill; and a host of friends and Quail Run neighbors that loved her, too.

A memorial service celebrating Suzanne’s extraordinary life and enduring legacy, while mourning her earthly loss, will be held on Saturday, September 12th at 11am at Seacrest Presbyterian Church in Delray Beach, Florida. A luncheon reception featuring her favorite foods, and especially desserts, will be served for family and friends to gather and fellowship in her honor. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Gospel City Church, Boynton Beach, Florida, the ASPCA, or Samaritan’s Purse.