Susan Kramer Lerner, 71, of Burnt Ranch and teacher in Humboldt County, suffered a stroke and left this world suddenly on November 17, 2023. Whether on a gold mining claim or in the classroom, Sue was known to be a fighter, fun-loving, generous and a fierce friend.

Sue was born on June 7, 1952, in Beaver, Pennsylvania. In high school she was a gymnast, a majorette and a cheerleader. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Special Education at the California University of Pennsylvania.

In the mid-1970s, she headed west, landing in Blue Lake before moving to Trinity County, on the edge of Humboldt County where she lived in Denny, and also 11 miles up the trail in Eagle Creek. Sue met her husband, Tim Lerner, at Simon LeGree’s in Hawkins Bar. He won the pool tournament and Sue’s heart. She then moved to Burnt Ranch with Tim and his young daughter Autumn Lerner in 1983. They built a rich family life together and Sue and Tim were together for 30 years until his death in 2013.

Sue was known by many names — Susie, Twosie, Two-Gun Sue, and Pistol-Packing Sue. But to generations of local students, she was simply “Ms. Lerner.” She taught school in Denny and was the last teacher at the Denny schoolhouse, taking four-year-old Autumn with her. She later taught Special Ed. at Hoopa Elementary, investing herself in her students and their families. In the early 1990s, Sue began to explore the “World Wide Web”, pioneering by bringing the internet into her Burnt Ranch home in the early days. Passionate about local Native culture, she applied her technology skills to document the Chimariko language with the last living speakers. She then taught at Hoopa High School, where she became a beloved early computer science teacher, earning an online master’s degree in educational technology from George Washington University. Meanwhile, she was active at Burnt Ranch School — as a parent and then a member of the Burnt Ranch School Board. Never one to remain idle, after retiring from teaching, Sue’s final career was in real estate, which she began in 2005 with Humboldt Land Co in Willow Creek. But she never did fully leave the classroom. She was seen substitute teaching recently in Hoopa and Burnt Ranch.

Sue was predeceased by her parents, John and Dorothy Kramer, and by her husband Tim Lerner. She leaves behind her partner Paul Reynolds, her sisters Kathleen Tray and Jennifer Kramer, her stepdaughter Autumn Lerner and her husband David Llama, her nieces Stephanie Tray (and husband Luke Henry), and Heather (and husband Christopher) Opalinsky, and great nieces and nephew Samantha, Charlotte and Shiloh.

Sue was loved by many and was a part of her community in numerous ways. If you were blessed to know Sue, you know she was tenacious and could tackle most anything. She was proud to call Humboldt-Trinity home for nearly 50 years — she loved the land and our community.

Sue lived a full and vibrant life and will be remembered as a loving partner, mother, sister, aunt, teacher, and friend. A celebration of Susan K. Lerner’s life will take place on Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. at the Burnt Ranch Elementary School with a community potluck.

###