Obituary: Susan “Sue” Davis
Eighty‑Seven‑Year‑Old Portland Community Leader Susan “Sue” Davis Dies
Portland, Maine – Susan “Sue” Davis, an 87‑year‑old lifelong advocate for health care and peace, died on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough. Born in Auburn, New York, on August 14, 1939, Davis spent most of her life in Maine, where she became known for her dedication to teaching, nursing, volunteer work, and civic activism.
Davis moved to Portland from Bucksport in the early 2000s and lived there until her passing. She had previously served as a teacher in local schools, providing guidance to generations of students. After retiring from teaching, she turned her attention to health care, working as a home‑health nurse for decades. Her commitment to compassionate care carried her into hospice work, where she volunteered at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, the very facility where she spent her final days.
Beyond health care, Davis was deeply involved in the American peace movement. She participated in several major peace rallies and served as a community activist, organizing local events that promoted nonviolent solutions to social and political conflicts. Her peers recall her as a quiet yet powerful voice, always ready to lend her time and expertise to those in need.
She was predeceased by her wife, Mary Jane Bush, who was a longtime partner and companion. Davis is survived by her brother, Bill Davis, and a large family of nieces and nephews, as well as a wide circle of friends who admired her spirit and generosity.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Conroy‑Tully Walker Funeral Home. The family has made arrangements for a private service, and a public memorial will be held at the funeral home in the coming weeks. Those wishing to pay their respects or leave condolences may visit the family’s online obituary at Conroy‑Tully Walker.
Davis’s legacy will live on through the countless lives she touched, from students she taught to patients she cared for, and from activists she inspired to friends who shared in her commitment to making Maine a more compassionate place.
