Obituary of Susan Hargis

Susan G. (Peterson) Hargis passed away peacefully in Bonita Springs FL on Monday, September 22, 2014 following a short but intense battle with cancer. She was born September 30, 1955 in Kalispell MT, and was raised in Butte MT from 1959 to 1978. She left Butte to pursue her professional career and raise her family, and lived in Houston TX, Ponca City OK, San Francisco CA, Santa Barbara CA, Las Vegas NV, and Bonita Springs FL. Above all, she loved Santa Barbara where she lived from 1981 to 1992. Susan touched everyone she met with her kindness and her concern for others. Susan was an avid horsewoman, and was active in horse shows throughout California while under the training of the late Tim Whitney of Carpinteria in the 1980s and early 1990s. She continued to ride her entire life, including only months before her passing. She combined her love of horses with her desire to help others as a volunteer with Naples Equestrian Challenge, a program to benefit special needs individuals in Southwest Florida. Susan also treasured her time as a volunteer Shorebird Steward with the Audubon Society, and cared for young birds as if they were her personal pets. Through these programs and her support of her favorite charities including Heifer International and the World Wildlife Fund, Susan expressed her care for her community and for the environment. Never one to call attention to herself, only Susan's closest friends fully appreciated her intelligence and technical abilities. In 1978, Susan was one of the first female students to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Montana Tech. She held professional positions as an engineer with Conoco in Houston TX and Ponca City OK. She moved to San Francisco in 1980 to become one of the youngest members of the Corporate Environmental Affairs staff at Chevron USA, where she applied her technical training and love of the environment to address major issues related to oil development and the protection of the environment. Susan later moved to Santa Barbara CA and continued her career with Chevron as an offshore petroleum production engineer as she started her family. As if that was not enough, she actively researched technical issues while working for Chevron, and was credited with the development of a major advancement in enhanced oil recovery technology. Through Susan's work, Chevron was able to substantially increase its recovery of crude oil from California onshore oil fields without adding a single well. Though significant as a technical achievement, Susan was most proud of the environmental benefits of her engineering contribution. Susan devoted her life to her family, and was most proud of her role as a mother of three children and a loving wife. Although her children were aware of her professional achievements, they will cherish the years she spent tirelessly helping with homework and shuttling three busy children to countless activities and lessons. It was important to her to ensure they had every opportunity for a full, challenging, and enriching life in every respect, and she succeeded. Her quiet support, encouragement, and above all trust in their abilities gave them the confidence to pursue their passions and lead independent lives. Over the years she also shared her love of animals with the whole family by teaching them to care for a multitude of pets, from turtles and goldfish, a rabbit, many cats, to dogs and horses (and even a semi-tamed chipmunk). She embraced her role as a grandmother and passed along the most important lessons of parenthood to her children and their young families, always with humor, perspective, and love. Her children are her legacy and her greatest accomplishment. Susan had a rich family life, and is survived by her loving husband of over 33 years, Dean Hargis of Bonita Springs FL, and her 3 children: Anna M. Mirabile (with her husband Mac and their son Mason) of London, England, Peter B. Hargis (with his wife Yasmeen) of Falls Church VA, Dale J. Hargis (with his wife Amanda) of Navarre FL, and her adoring cats Mojito and Mai Tai. She is also survived by her mother, Betty B. Peterson of Butte MT, sister Nancy Kommers (with her husband Jim) of Bozeman MT, sister Holly Peterson of Butte MT, and brother Mark Peterson (with his wife Stacy) of Butte MT. Vigil and Rosary services will be held at 7:30 PM on October 9, 2014, followed by Funeral Services at 10:00 AM on October 10 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Santa Barbara CA. Flowers may be sent to the McDermott-Crockett Mortuary in Santa Barbara CA. Friends and family wishing to make memorial donations in lieu of flowers are asked to consider the Naples Equestrian Challenge, 206 Ridge Drive Naples FL 34108 (online at www.naplesequestrianchallenge.org ) Funeral arrangements are being handled by: McDermott-Crockett Mortuary, 2020 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105.