Susan Pak Dooner, 86, went to meet her Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 15, at her home in Huntsville, surrounded by family and friends. She was a devoted mother, caring sister, doting grandmother, and faithful friend who spent her life protecting and caring for those she loved.
Born Pak Tok Sun on May 12, 1939, in Kyongnam-do, Korea, she spent her early years overcoming profound adversity. She was born during the Japanese occupation of Korea, orphaned by the age of 9, and became a child refugee during the Korean War.
After the war, while living in Seoul, she met the man who would become her husband. She married her soulmate, Andrew James Dooner, on December 10, 1965. Together, they lived around the world—calling places like Hawaii, Oklahoma, South Korea, and Germany home—before finally settling in Huntsville.
Susan spent much of her life working in retail before becoming a successful businesswoman. Among her ventures, her favorite was owning and operating The Bar-B-Q Shack in Fayetteville, Tennessee. After selling the restaurant in the early 2000s, she enjoyed traveling, gardening, and, most of all, spoiling her grandchildren.
A generous and compassionate soul, Susan supported many charitable organizations throughout her life, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, World Vision’s Feed the Hungry, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the March of Dimes, and Operation Smile.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Park Jung Ik and Park Mal Nam; her sisters, Park Dae Yob and Park Choon Ja; and her beloved husband, Andrew.
Susan is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, John and Julie Dooner; her sister, Park Yoon Yub; her brother and sister-in-law, Hong Ku and Inja Park; and her two grandchildren, Jax and Jones Dooner.
A visitation will be held at Laughlin Service Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 10:00–11:00 AM, with a memorial service immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Susan’s honor to one of the following charities: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Paralyzed Veterans of America, or Operation Smile.
