Susan Huntley Sanders

SUSAN HUNTLEY SANDERS

(4/1/1959 – 8/29/2026)

Susan Huntley Sanders, 67, of Tampa, Florida, passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 29, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula, Montana. After being diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer in June, Susan returned home to Montana to be surrounded by the family and friends she loved so dearly.

Susan was born on April 1, 1959, in Butte, Montana, to Clayton and Barbara Huntley. One of five children, she grew up on a cattle ranch in the Big Hole Valley near Wisdom, Montana, where she developed a lifelong appreciation for family, community, and the beauty of Montana. She attended Wisdom Elementary School and later Beaverhead County High School in Dillon where she participated in basketball, track and the Golden Girls Drill Team. She went on to Montana State University where she was a cheerleader and earned a degree in Education.

After college, Susan married and moved to Billings, Montana, where she raised her two children, Larissa and Brett. She embraced the many demands of being a working mother, building a career while raising her children and making sure they always knew they were her top priority. Over the years, she worked in pharmaceutical sales and later as a customer service manager in the telecommunications industry.

After her children were grown, Susan moved to Connecticut, where she married the love of her life, Brian Sanders. She worked as a customer service manager for Compass Learning, a children’s educational software company, until Brian’s career eventually took them to Tampa, Florida, where she retired.

Susan’s greatest gifts had little to do with her career. They were found in the way she loved people.

Susan had a radiance that came from deep within. She brought warmth and sunshine into every room she entered, and her presence made people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for. She was tender-hearted, genuine, and wonderfully authentic. More than anything, Susan loved connecting with people one-on-one.

She had a rare ability to truly listen— without judgment, or without rushing. She created a safe place where people could open their hearts and speak honestly about the things that mattered most. In response, Susan somehow seemed to know exactly what to say. Her advice was thoughtful, honest, and full of compassion.

For countless friends and family members, Susan was their trusted “go-to,” their sounding board, their confidante, and, in difficult moments, their lifeline. She had a way of making people feel that whatever they were facing, they did not have to face it alone.

Susan found joy in the simple and meaningful things in life: a good book, a new place to explore, a journey shared with someone she loved, and, most of all, time with her family. Her four grandchildren held a particularly special place in her heart, and she treasured every moment she spent with them.

Susan leaves behind a legacy not simply of the things she accomplished, but of the lives she touched. She will be deeply missed by her husband, Brian Sanders; her children, Larissa Mulvaney and Brett Mulvaney; her stepchildren, Grayson Sanders and Aubrey Lewis; her four grandchildren; and her siblings, Sheryl Huntley, Patti Monaco, Blake Huntley, and Rob Huntley, along with their families.

Susan’s life was a gift to all who knew her. She brought light into the lives of others and lived out her deep faith simply by being herself. Her laughter, warmth, wisdom, and unconditional kindness will live on in the people who loved her.

After a private church service, an informal Celebration of Life will be held for family and close friends at Jackson Hot Springs Lodge on Saturday, October 10, 2026.