Mary Sue Hernandez

Mary Sue Johnson Hernandez passed away at her home in Fair Oaks, California, on March 11, 2026. She was loved deeply by her family and friends who will always treasure her.

Mary Sue grew up in Eureka and graduated from Eureka High School with the class of 1975 where she made many cherished friends and memories. She recently reconnected and had fun with her Eureka High classmates at the 50th class reunion held in 2025. She loved growing up close to the Redwoods and she shared this beautiful place and her Eureka family with her daughters, Tessa and Megan Hernandez.

In her early adult years, following high school and college, Mary Sue enjoyed living in Hawaii, Texas, and Southern California, before eventually settling in Fair Oaks, California.

Mary Sue devoted her life to her daughters, Tessa and Megan, and to her granddaughters, Nina and Emie. It was a miracle to her to have girls. They were the pride and joy of her life. She was an incredibly supportive mother who was always there encouraging her daughters every step of the way. She took great pride in watching them attend college, earn their degrees, and build successful careers and beautiful marriages. Their accomplishments were the bright shining light in her eyes.

Throughout her life, Mary Sue loved her family and cared deeply about people. Her compassionate nature made her a wonderful listener who made everyone around her feel seen and valued. With Mary Sue, you always knew you had someone on your team who you could trust. In her father’s final years, he had his Suzie by his side. Mary Sue had a passion for psychology and dedicated many years to helping those with mental illness. She was compassionate and full of light.

Mary Sue was always happy to host friends at the house and barbeque in the backyard for a party. She had fun attending athletic events at Bella Vista High School with her daughters while they studied there.

Her joy in recent years was being with her two granddaughters. She loved playing games, reading, swimming, and sharing beautiful music with her grandbabies. She even had a hilarious boogie boarding adventure with them. She made sure they felt deeply loved. She was the best Grammie.

Mary Sue’s travels took her around the world with her family. She enjoyed exploring Tahoe, Yosemite, Hawaii, Italy, Spain, Sweden, as well as many trips to France and Costa Rica with her loved ones.

Mary Sue had a laugh that was truly unforgettable and the best sense of humor. She never missed a chance to pull off a world-class April Fools’ prank. When she got the giggles, you could not help but join in. Her laughter was infectious and one of the many things people loved about her.

Mary Sue was a woman of faith and found comfort in believing she would one day be reunited with the loved ones she had lost. While her passing came as a shock to those who loved her, they find peace in imagining the joyful reunion she is having now embracing her grandmother, Leila, her father, Sterling, and so many others who went before her.

Mary Sue experienced hardships and losses throughout her life and often lived with physical pain, yet she continued to push through with quiet resilience, strength, and grace.

Mary Sue was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Ann Kellen; her father, Sterling Johnson; her brother, David Johnson; her grandmother, Leila Kellen, who raised her; as well as many cousins and special friends who meant so much to her.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Tessa and Megan; her sons-in-law, Clément and Andy; her beloved granddaughters, Nina and Emie; her cousin, Renelle, who was more like a sister; her nieces and nephews who adored her; and her many friends and family members.

Mary Sue will be remembered for her deeply caring nature, her laugh, and the true love she had for her family and friends. Her legacy lives on through her loved ones. She taught her family what it means to be a good person with strong values. Her family will carry on all they learned from Mary Sue’s beautiful life. She will be loved and a part of them forever.

A viewing will take place at East Lawn Mortuary on Sunday, March 22, from 2pm - 4pm.

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