Susan Elizabeth Lastrapes passed away in her sleep on February 4, 2025 in her Kingwood home. She settled there in the late 1970's and began her teaching career in Kingwood schools.

Susan was born in Tiffin, Ohio on December 14, 1954 to Doloris and Dr. Thomas Lastrapes. She spent her formative years in Marion, Ohio and graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1976 with her teaching degree and multiple teaching certificates.

Susan was hired by the Humble ISD in 1979 to teach Special Education at Woodland Hills Elementary School. In 1985, she moved to Humble Middle School. Special education was a mission for Susan, inspired by her two special needs brothers. In 1996, she switched to Humble High School to teach Theater. She taught Special Education and Theater at Creekwood Middle School from 2004 until her retirement from full time teaching in 2006. Susan watched with pride as her students produced and performed many well-known plays for their parents and the community. Discovering she wasn't ready to hang it up, she became a substitute in the school district in 2008 and was still substituting until her sudden passing. It's amazing to think about all the children's lives she touched during her 40+ years of teaching.

Susan had a gift for teaching and directing theater performances, working for decades with the in schools and with numerous theatre organizations where she devoted her time to helping performers hone their craft. She reveled in every phase of the process, from tryouts, choreography, and set design to blocking and production. Selecting the plays she thought would be the most meaningful for the actors and enjoyed by the audience was a real pleasure. She recently had gotten back into being a judge for student plays and thoroughly enjoyed the experience as it brought her much happiness.

Having grown up with dachshunds, Susan had a great love for wiener dogs and became a rescue sponsor for dogs without a home. They were her family and much beloved, especially Rudolph, Rufus and Max. While she enjoyed traveling, it was always hard for her to be away from them.

Faith and her church community were foundational in Susan's life. She was a dedicated and active member of Kingwood Christian Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Michael. She is survived by her brother Tommy (Marion, OH), brother David and wife Sheila (Austin, TX), and brother Tim and wife Tina (Powell, OH), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held at her church in Kingwood on March 15, 2025, at 10:30am. Donations in her honor may be made to Doctors Without Boarders.