Susan Mary Rigter was born September 16, 1951 in Webster City, Iowa to Raymond and Orpha (Olson) Rigter and lived near Kamrar on the Rigter Century Farm. She was baptized at the Kamrar Presbyterian Church, attended K-3 at the Kamrar School and then in 1959, moved with her family to a farm east of Williams. She attended Williams Schools from grades 3-6. She graduated high school in 1969 from Northeast Hamilton in Blairsburg and from the Business Program at Ellsworth Junior College in Iowa Falls in 1970.

She married Terry Doyle on April 25, 1970 and they moved to Ames where she and Terry raised three children: Angela, Alison, and Cale. She worked for 15 years as a homemaker and in home daycare provider and in 1985 joined the Ames Community School/Fellows Elementary as an Educational Associate. She continued working with her Fellows family for 28 joyful and dedicated years, 20 as an associate in regular ed, and for the last 8 as an associate in behavior disorders. She retired May 30, 2013 and had plans to continue volunteering there. She loved her work and considered each day at Fellows a gift, but she considered her children and family to be her greatest accomplishment.

She was a past member of the Ames Police Auxiliary, a member of the First United Methodist Church and was recognized as a lifetime member of the United Methodist Women (UMW). She was actively involved in many church activities, including visiting the elderly and the FUMC Holiday Fair. She was an active volunteer for many years for the Ames High Booster Club, and was recognized as Booster of the Year and also received the Lloyd Dresser Award.

Susan died November 30, 2013 at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, surrounded by those she loved, following a courageous six month battle with cancer at 62 years of age.

Survivors include her father, Raymond Rigter, of Williams; two sisters, Sandy (Larry) Swanson, of Manchester and Sally (Randy) Greenfield, of Kamrar; brother, John (Sandy) Rigter, of Williams; her husband, Terry Doyle; daughters, Angela (Chris) Hewitt, of Jewell and Alison (Chris Bilslend) Doyle, of Ames; son, Cale (Amber) Doyle, of Ames; six grandchildren, CJ, Carter, Caleigh, Claire Hewitt, all of Jewell, Tyler Doyle, of Ames, Cecelia Doyle, of Ames; brother-in-law, Dick (Linda) Doyle, of Story City; eight nephews, JD Rigter, of Ft Benning, GA, Daniel (Jessica) Greenfield, of Story City, Ben (Andrea Roberts) Greenfield, of Kamrar, David (Brittany Miller) Greenfield, of Story City, Jordan (Kelly) Swanson, of Madison, WI, Tim Doyle, of Albuquerque, NM, Kevin Doyle, of Story City and Travis Doyle, of Story City; two nieces, Abby (Guy) Lehman, of Waukee and Amy Swanson, of Manchester; three great-nieces and one great-nephew; two uncles and one aunt, Alvin VanLangen, of Jewell and Joe and Joan Rigter, of Charleston, SC; seven cousins and their spouses and extended families; multiple friends; and her entire Fellows Elementary family.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Orpha Rigter; paternal grandparents, Joe and Jessie Rigter; maternal grandparents, George and Rickie Olson; mother and father-in-law, Eugene (Dewey) and Blanche Doyle; aunts, Elaine VanLangen, Mary Ann Olson and June Timm; uncle, Elmer Timm; and two cousins.

Susan was passionate about her family, especially her grandchildren, her friends she considered an extension of her family, appreciating the change of seasons, a sunset or moonrise and exercising/riding her bike. She constantly reminded those closest to her to give thanks each day, find joy in the little things, and most importantly, to find the good in every person.