Susan Kay (Hilgers) Coombs

Susan Kay (Hilgers) Coombs, 69, of Sonoma, passed away peacefully with her loving daughter and precious dog by her side on August 9, 2009. Susan bravely battled cancer for the past year and is now at peace.

Born in Madison, Wisconsin on April 12, 1940, she was the middle child of Roman and Doris Hilgers. After graduating from Wisconsin High School, she began a career in nursing.
In 1961 she married John Coombs and later welcomed their only child into the world. They moved to California in 1963 and to Sonoma in 1976. Her Sonoma country home enabled her to share her life with horses, livestock and many special companion animals. She worked for local veterinarians and was the manger of Wine Country House (now Merill Gardens), a senior housing complex, for 11 years. Her passion in supporting seniors provided many treasured friendships. In her retirement years she enjoyed hiking with her dog, birdwatching, gardening and supporting animal welfare groups.

She is survived by her loving daughter Sonoma resident Cindy Coombs-Machado, Animal Services Director for the Marin Humane Society; Allie, her beloved Jack Russell Terrier; her sister Judy (Paul) Kopp of Festus, Missouri; her brother Mark (Katie) Hilgers of Poynette, Wisconsin; former husband John (Sharon) Coombs of Southern California; his brother Ed (Margie) Coombs of Redmond, Washington; his sister Caryl (Bob) Stella of New Meadows, Idaho and numerous nieces and nephews in Missouri and Washington.

A private memorial was held on August 13 in Sonoma. Memorial donations in Susan’s name may be made to The Marin Humane Society, Hospice by the Bay and the Performing Animal Welfare Society.