Past Manson Apple Blossom Festival Royalty - Where are they now

MANSON - This is the first installment of “Where Are They Now” featuring past Manson Apple Blossom royalty.  Recently we met up with Susie (Miller) Fox, part of the graduating class from Manson High School in 1980 and the Manson Apple Blossom Queen that year.
“Being a part of Apple Blossom is a big deal in our family.  Even when the whole family moved around Washington state we always came home for the Apple Blossom Parade, Pig Jig, Quilt Show and other activities centered around this special community celebration.  
My great-grandma, Edna Bennett made the first crowns for the royalty.  Growing up, it was something to aspire to.  My sisters (Kathy Jackson and Mona Ferguson) and I would dress up and borrow the crowns from the royalty when they came over for tea as part of their duties (royalty used to attend local meetings to promote the Apple Blossom activities).  My crown was the last crown my great-grandmother made. Great-grandpa John Bennett used to make the chests that the crowns were kept in.  Mona Ferguson has since taken over the crown making (it has stayed in the Bennett/Miller family with Nita Bennett and Susi Bennett making crowns for many years).
Each of my siblings have enjoyed active participation in Apple Blossom; each of us were in the Royal Court as kindergarteners and again our senior years.  I was Queen 1980, Kathy (Miller) Jackson Princess 1981 and Mona (Miller) Ferguson Queen 1982.  Tim Miller was an attendant to Queen Jennifer Allison 1989.
I graduated from Manson High School as Valedictorian and went on to graduate with my BA in Education from Eastern Washington University, graduated from Gonzaga University with my MA in Educational leadership with an additional endorsement as a Principal.  I taught around Washington State for 33 years, but mainly in Spokane School District.  My husband of 30 years, Michael J. Stuivenga, passed away five years ago.  I was blessed to find another widow that had also been happily married for 30 years, Marty D. Fox.  We have been happily married for over three years and plan to begin building our dream home below the Manson Elementary School in April 2021.
I still look forward to each “decade” parade that I get to proudly wear my crown again and ride in a convertible in the Apple Blossom Parade, Susie concluded.