Susan Lynne Taylor, a retired member of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, passed away at her Longview home on September 20, 2026 after a long battle with cancer.

She was born in Longview, Washington on December 18, 1955 to Patricia and Hal Branscom and attended Columbia Valley Gardens Elementary school and then graduated from Mark Morris High School in 1974.

As she advanced in her early violin studies with local teachers, it became apparent that Susan Branscom was superbly talented and dedicated to that instrument and that a rich career in music was before her. Edward Seferian, former Seattle Symphony Concertmaster and conductor of the Tacoma Symphony, was her teacher and mentor thru her later high school years, which were filled with competitions, student orchestra memberships, and performances throughout the area. One of Susan's more notable contributions during this time, was her performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Southwest Washington Symphony in 1974.

After high school, Susan attended San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Juilliard School of Music, where she studied with the famous violin teacher, Dorothy Delay.

Upon joining the Seattle Symphony Orchestra in 1979, Susan was a frequent recitalist and concerto performer with regional orchestras, enjoying a rich and satisfying career until a hand injury caused her to leave the orchestra in 2002. Since that time, and up to her passing, Susan, her husband, David, and daughter Natalie have lived in the Longview area, where Susan developed her love of beading and creating Native American regalia.

She is survived by her siblings, David, Ronna, and Patrick; her husband, David; three children, Adriana, Natalie, and Maxwell; and three grandchildren, Dayton, Desmond, and Jorja Fox.

A memorial service is planned for Monday, October 19th at 12:00pm at Steele Chapel at Longview Memorial Park.