Susan Allynne Benard, 73, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away on January 18, 2026. She was born to Alcide and Evelyn Bushey. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Michael Bushey; and her husband, Raymond (Bugsy) Benard Jr., to whom she was married for 38 years.

She is survived by her children, Raymond Benard III, Annette Phillips, and William Benard; her grandchildren, RaeAnn Jones, Christina Gifford, Raymond Benard IV, Alexis Benard, Peige Benard, Melissa Spradlin, and Kristen Benard; and her great-grandchildren, Jaden, Casey, Mary, Mallory, Raymond Benard V, Kynzleigh, Kyliegh, Bryson, Clayton, Karter, Josiah, Javeon, and Jakai. She is also survived by her companion, who brought her much happiness in her final years, Tom Willson.

Susan was known by many names to those who loved her, Sue, Susie Q, Mom, Nanny, GG, and Nancy Pancy. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose greatest joy was spending time with her family. If anyone in the family was hungry, she made sure they were fed. No one ever left her home without a full stomach. During family barbecues, she always asked for one thing in particular, a burnt hot dog, just the way she liked it. You could look at all the food on the grill and know exactly which one was Nana's. She always wanted to know when her loved ones made it home safe and sound, staying up until she received a call or text. She was the rock of the family, the one anyone could call for anything, and somehow, she would make it happen. Nana was the first to forgive and the first to help, even if she was upset. She cared deeply for her family and showed it in everything she did.

She loved going thrifting and antiquing, finding deals and hidden treasures, often asking, "Did anything jump out at you, or is there anything you cannot live without?" She had a true gift for spotting special finds and never missed a chance to pick up a Christmas decoration. Christmas decorations began coming out before Halloween, partly because the season never came quickly enough for her and partly because her collection was so large it took time to bring it all out. She had a Christmas tree for every room, enough village pieces to decorate two houses, and a snowman collection that could rival Canada in the winter. She enjoyed the thrill of a good find and appreciated the value of a true bargain.
She loved skateboarding. On trips to Walmart, she would step onto a skateboard and roll a foot or two while her family nervously told her to get off before she hurt herself. She was also known for taking all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren down the toy aisle and letting them press every button. The racket could be heard aisles over. When anyone said something to her, she would simply smile and say she needed to know what they liked, and pushing buttons was how she found out. Her playful spirit and generous heart made ordinary moments unforgettable.

Her love, patience, and guidance knew no bounds and made her into the most caring woman to those who were lucky enough to meet her. She was an extreme giver, always putting others before herself and finding joy in doing so. The greatest lesson she instilled in her family was simple yet powerful: "As long as you truly do the best you can, that is all we can ever ask of you." She believed that not every goal would be reached and not every plan would unfold perfectly, but if we gave our honest effort and took life one step at a time, that was enough for her. She will be deeply missed, but her love, laughter, and lessons will continue to live on in every family gathering, every Christmas decoration hung a little too early, and every burnt hot dog cooked just the way she liked it.