News
Suzanne McMurry Leaves A Forever 4-H Legacy
An estate gift valued at more than $100,000 has established the Suzanne McMurry 4-H Memorial Endowment. Interest earned from the fund will provide support to 4-H Youth Development programs in Winnebago County for all the years to come in Suzanne’s memory. Priority usage of the earnings will be targeted to support 4-H youth or alumni from Winnebago County that participate in any 4-H international exchange program. The other designated use for the fund’s earnings are for 4-H club recruitment and marketing programs so more youth in Winnebago County will be positively impacted by 4-H Youth Development programs.
Suzanne McMurry was born December 1, 1941, in Orion, Illinois. Her parents were Edgar and Elizabeth (Wilson) McWhinney. Suzanne earned a B.S. degree in home economics with a minor in journalism from the University of Illinois in 1964. She traveled to New Zealand later that year as an IFYE (International 4-H Youth Exchange) delegate.
Professionally, Suzanne taught at Sunny Hill School in Orion and later was an English grammar instructor at Rock Valley College in Rockford. She embraced community life and volunteered extensively including as a leader for the Guilford Gainers 4-H Club for more than 20 years. Suzanne served two terms on the University of Illinois Extension State Advisory Committee.
All four of her children, Elizabeth Russo, Sara Dady, Katy McMurry, and Robert McMurry, were Guilford Gainers 4-H Club members and participated in 4-H international exchange programs. Elizabeth was a LABO delegate to Japan and then a LABO program intern in Japan. Sara was an IFYE delegate to Greece and Italy. Katy is an IFYE alumna to Scotland. Robert was an IFYE delegate to Belgium.
Suzanne passed away unexpectedly on July 27, 2004.
