Sue Ellen Wall

Sue Ellen Wall was born on July 10, 1947, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Roland and Virginia Purifoy. The oldest of four children, she is survived by her brother, Rollie Purifoy, and her sisters, Trisha Campbell and Barbie Potter. Sue graduated from Fort Lupton High School in 1965, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Vocational Education from Colorado State University, and later received a Master of Arts in Educational Administration.

On February 10, 1968, Sue married John Tuell. Their daughter, Kimberly Sue Folkestad, was born later that year, followed by their son, Jeffrey Scott Tuell, in 1975. Sue began her teaching career in 1970 at Loveland High School, where she taught vocational business education and served as department chairperson. In 1976, she joined Thompson Valley High School, helping to plan the new school and later becoming its first woman assistant principal. After her divorce from John in 1985, she married Jan Wall on June 17, 1989. The couple eventually returned to Loveland, where they enjoyed hosting family, traveling to Mexico, playing games, and sharing meals and laughter with friends.

Sue continued her distinguished career at Thompson Valley High School and later served as vice principal. In 1995 she was named Colorado Assistant Principal of the Year, and in 1997 she was recognized as Vocational Educator of the Year. That same year she was selected to become the founding principal of Mountain View High School, becoming the first woman to serve as a secondary school principal in the Thompson School District. She worked closely with teachers and community members to design and establish the school before retiring in 2002 after 32 years as an educator. In 2008, the auditorium at Mountain View High School was named in her honor.

Sue was a strong, dedicated woman whose greatest pride was her family. She is survived by her children, Kimberly Sue Folkestad and husband Mark, and Jeffrey Scott Tuell and his partner Jayme Ritchie; stepchildren Cindy Cousins, Tony Wall, Reggie Wall, and Rick Wall; granddaughters Alicia Dixon, Lexington Tuell, and Kensington Tuell; great-granddaughter Hadley Dixon; and step-grandchildren Zack Folkestad, Nicole Cousins, Kelsey Cousins, Rachel Wall, and Jesselyn Wall. For 56 years in Loveland, she remained deeply involved in her community through numerous organizations and cherished weekly card games with close friends. Known for her generosity, thoughtfulness, and love of cooking, entertaining, puzzles, games, and travel, Sue lived by the motto she adopted at her high school graduation: “Success is not measured by the height obtained, but by the obstacles overcome in its attainment.”

Sue Ellen Wall passed away unexpectedly on March 6, 2026, at the age of 78. She will be deeply missed.