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 inlaws, 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 to take “walks and talks” in the neighborhood..

Also in 2022, our mother became one of the founding member 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.