Susan Lee Coleman

Susan Lee Coleman, age 73, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on February 19, 2025. 

Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Amarillo. Texas.

Coleman was born on September 19, 1951, at Muleshoe, Tx the daughter of Dr. John Buchanan Coleman and Mary Sue Osborn. The family resided in Portales, NM, where she held local and state offices in Order for Rainbow for Girls and received the Grand Cross of Color for her service. She also participated in Children of the American Revolution and was named State C.A.R. of the Year.

She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts from West Texas State University and her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Texas Tech University and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1976. She completed additional studies in law at the City of London Polytechnic Institute and in political science at Texas Tech.

A devoted Buff, Coleman, joined the faculty of West Texas State University in 1982 and served as Director of the Criminal Justice program. She retired in 2015. She was the recipient of the University Excellence Award and was named by students as the outstanding professor in criminal justice and political science on several occasions. She was honored as a member of Old Main Society in recognition of her support of scholarships for WTAMU students. She also received the Outstanding Service Award from the College of Education and Social Sciences and was identified as a Distinguished Graduate of the College. Coleman was granted the rank of emeritus by the Texas A&M University System. She also was recognized by Amarillo College for her support of scholarships.

She was the co-author of three political science books and one genealogy book as well as the author of numerous articles. She was recognized with the Career Achievement Award by the Amarillo Women’s Network and was a recipient of a key to the City of Amarillo.

Coleman was past president of the Amarillo League of Women Voters and past associate director of the League of Women Voters of Texas. She was a member of American Association of University Women and former board member of the Amarillo Branch. She was past president of Alibates Chapter, Daughters of the American Colonists and past president and charter member of Daniel Wing Chapter, Colonial Dames, XVII Century and Panhandle Colony, Magna Charta Dames and Barons. She belonged to Sons and Daughters of the Colonial and Antebellum Bench and Bar, the Founding Families of South Carolina, and the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the U.S.A. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Canyon. She had served on the board for Parenting Services. Coleman was a co-founder of the Louise Daniel Women in History Lecture Series and served a chair of the steering committee. She served as president of the High Plains Chapter, American Civil Liberties Union.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her aunt, Norma Lee Osborn Mayben; her cousins, Norma Sue Mayben and George William Mayben; and her uncle, Judge George F. Coleman.

She is survived by her cousins – Sherri Allison Mayben and husband Chris Stockner of Palmdale, CA; George Franklin Coleman III and Amos Davis Coleman of Winnsboro, SC; Creighton Buchanan Coleman and wife Marion, all of Columbia, SC; and Lucy Davis Coleman McCoy and husband Pete of Hartsville, SC, and their families

Memorials may be made to the John B and Mary O. Coleman Scholarship or the Jesse and Grace Osborn Scholarship at West Texas A&M University, WT Box 60766, Canyon, TX 79016.