In loving memory of Suzanne “Suzy” Allene Williams
July 17, 1941 – August 11, 2026
Suzanne “Suzy” Allene Williams, a lifelong education advocate and civil servant, passed away on August 11, 2026, with her two sons at her bedside.
Born in California on July 17, 1941, to Al and Adelaide “Daisy” Trammell, Suzy grew up mostly in Riverside as the eldest of five children.
She fell in love with reading before she could formally read — her parents swore she had memorized her favorite book by age three — and she carried that love of books throughout her life.
After graduating from Riverside Polytechnic High School in 1959, Suzy earned her BA from Westmont College, where she made lifelong friendships, followed by a teaching certification from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in clinical counseling from Cal State Hayward.
Teaching became Suzy’s true calling.
Over more than 30 years in the classroom, she had a special gift for students with special needs or behavioral challenges — where others saw trouble, she saw potential, and she became the beloved (if formidable) teacher of many a self-proclaimed “hooligan.”
Her generosity extended well beyond her classroom: she fostered and eventually adopted seven girls in need of a loving home.
While living in the Bay Area, she met and married Gary McCosker.
Their sons, John and Kirk, were born in 1981 and 1982.
The family later returned to Riverside, and after retiring from teaching, Suzy — at her sons’ urging — settled in Oceanside, which she declared the most perfect place on earth.
She became a fixture of the community, volunteering with the Oceanside Kiwanis Club, serving as president and newsletter editor for the Friends of the Oceanside Public Library, sitting on the Library Foundation board, and staying active at First Presbyterian Church.
Suzy will be remembered for her generosity, her easy laugh, and her endless love of learning.
She is survived by her sons, John and Kirk McCosker; her sister, Tina Anderson; daughter-in-law Kate McHugh; grandsons Malcolm and Ronan McCosker; and a large, loving extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Tim and Terry Trammell, her sister Nancy Stone, and her cousin Ron Hollenbeck.
A remembrance celebrating Suzy’s life and her dedication to Oceanside will be held at the Oceanside Civic Center Library on August 25th from 12:30–2 p.m., followed by a memorial service at Oceanside’s First Presbyterian Church from 4–6 p.m.
Both events are open to the public. A private family burial will follow on August 26th at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park in Riverside.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Friends of the Oceanside Library or school supplies for a local school in Suzy’s name.
