Suzanne Hardgrove Murchison

Suzanne Hardgrove Murchison, was born in Palo Alto, CA April 13, 1936 to Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Evelyn Hardgrove and passed away September 24, 2025 surrounded by family. Sue was a proud graduate of Stanford University where she met and married Donald M. Murchison. Together they started their family in Sacramento. As a young mother with 3 young children, Timothy, Allison and Andrea, she moved with her husband to Hawaii and proceeded to establish her life from scratch far from family and usual support.

Mom immersed herself in activities becoming a leader with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Mom learned a new culture, meeting friends from Dad‘s work, from our neighborhoods and in our schools. When it was time to return to Sacramento, Mom and Dad built their forever home with 3 kids, under age 13, where she lived long into her 89th year. Mom loved her home, welcomed family and friends to visit. Mom hosted all family events and invited her grandchildren to spend summer vacations with her out by the pool and discovering fun activities in around Northern California.

When we were mostly launched, Mom put her Stanford degree in French to good use when Mom and Dad opened a travel agency dedicated to student tours in Europe. Once again, Mom started from scratch sending thousands of students and adults on tours they both enjoyed and that would be enriching and educational for the students. An excellent benefit of her business was all of the travel that she and dad were able to enjoy worldwide. They introduced us and our families to many wonderful trips building memories with all of us.

Mom was a very accomplished woman who immersed herself in the activities of her community, Wellsprings Women’s Center, Sacramento Children’s Home, Jesuit Loyola Guild, Sacramento Symphony, Sacramento Opera, Cerebral Palsy and many others especially those dedicated to children. It was important to her to bring her children to the guild so that we could help as well in a family service. Even as a young child mom was devoted to the arts. Later in life Mom and Dad became members of the Order of Malta, where they participated in many annual pilgrimages to Lourdes, serving Malades from around the world with grace and dignity. Mom had a servant’s heart and wasn’t afraid to wear it on her sleeve.

Mom was an adventurist Cook enjoying Thanksgiving dinners around her dining room table and wonderful recipes that she picked up from the Children’s Receiving Home or her favorite Bon Appétit magazine. Mom was an avid reader, a sharp analyst of current events, love to discuss any new topic that hit the front page of the news. Mom was a huge believer in the power of Democratic process and served for many years as a volunteer at election poll sites.

Mom‘s biggest accomplishments were her love for Dad and her fierce devotion to her family. We all came first and she made sure that we had plenty of opportunities to successfully launch and grow families of our own. She was tremendously proud of her three children Timothy (Lori), Allison (Marty III) and Andrea, six grandchildren Kaity, Alex, Marty IV, Eileen, Courtney and Andrew, and her four great grandchildren Marty V, Crosby, Owen, Arabella and counting. Mom held on to our best toys as well as her best childhood toys and books, which are still fascinating to the youngest grandchild and Great grandchildren today.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Wellsprings Women’s Center 3414 4th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95817, wellspringwomen.org where they both enjoyed volunteering for many years.

Services will be held Friday October 3, 2025, 11am at St. Ignatius Parish Church on Arden, reception to follow.