Suzanne Murphy, 60, of Thousand Oaks, CA, passed away Wednesday, October 18, 2006 in Lexington, KY. Graveside services will be 9:30 a.m. Monday, October 23 in Park Lawn Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri. She will be laid to rest near her parents Frances and Bill Peery. Friends may call 4-6 p.m. Sunday at the Park Lawn Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to William Woods University Saddle Seat Dept., Fulton, MO.

Suzanne was born September 28, 1946 in Kansas City, MO. She attended Lawson High School. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia and received her M.B.A. from Pepperdine University in California. Suzanne was a manager for Verizon.

She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Dan Murphy; two brothers, Dennis Creason, Blue Springs, MO and Dan Peery, Independence, MO; three sisters, Cheryl Creason, Raytown, MO, Shannon Noland, Berkeley, CA and Jill Neunuebel, Leawood, KS; along with 16 nieces and nephews.

The passion in Suzanne's life was horses. An accomplished horsewoman all of her life, this year was the most outstanding of her equestrian career. With her horse, Corsage, she placed in every major horse show in the state of Kentucky, including the World Championships at Louisville. She, her trainers and instructors, shared a mutual respect and admiration. She had served on the Board of Directors of the Pacific Saddlebred Association and had friends throughout the country in the Saddlebred community. Suzanne loved and was loved by her family; especially her nieces and nephews with whom she had especially close relationships. Suzanne suffered a heart attack after attending a horse show in Kentucky. (Arrangements: Park Lawn Funeral Home, 816-523-1234).

Published in the Kansas City Star on 10/21/2006.