MarySue (Kopp) Touch, age 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, August 17, 2026. She will be remembered as a devoted wife married 59 years to her true love, Alan, a nurturing and loving mother to three sons and a daughter (and grandson whom she raised), cherished grandmother, treasured and beloved aunt, sister, cousin, and friend.

Born January 7th, 1945, she was born and raised in Springfield IL, living in the Hazel Dell area on Lake Springfield, she had many fond memories swimming and riding in boats on the lake in the summer and ice skating on it in the winter. As a teen, she worked at what became known as the crown jewel of downtown shopping in Springfield, at the premier Bressmer department store. She received the prestigious honor from Seventeen Magazine (NYC), selected to be on their Teen Fashion Board, as a youth ambassador and model for Bressmer Department Store as part of a national campaign promoting new fashions. At Bressmer she modeled the latest styles showcased in Seventeen Magazine, advising store buyers on teen trends, organized fashion shows for their peers, and continued to assist on the sales floor.

She attended Western Illinois University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and during college home on a summer break, out on a sailboat on Lake Springfield, she first met who would become her beloved husband. After being married, she spent part of her life living in Rochester NY, Long Island NY, and settled in Raleigh NC for a greater part of her life for almost 40 years.

MarySue had a true vocation for motherhood and a remarkable gift for nurturing others. A teacher before becoming a homemaker, she never really stopped teaching, guiding, or encouraging young people. Besides being a devoted partner to her husband, her own children and grandchildren were at the center of her world, but her mothering heart extended far beyond her immediate family. MarySue was a gatherer of people. There was always room for one more – at her table, in her home, on a family trip or at a birthday celebration. She had a way of making people feel welcomed, cared for, included, and celebrated. And over the years became a second mother, mentor, and encourager to many.

She had a strength within, taking care of others, championing them in thought, prayer and action. Her legacy is her family. She shared with others herself through her little sayings, advice, sometimes long talks, showing up in written letters, cards and texts, and most of all her prayerful spirituality.

She enjoyed traveling to some of her favorite places such as England, Disney World, NYC at Christmas time, bringing her children back to Springfield for summer visits, and always enjoyed planning her next trip with her family. She enjoyed being creative, whether it was scrapbooking or as a young mom creating her business “Crafts and Creations by Mary Sue”
(her year-round craft and season fruitcake business), helping with school projects, making things for a school fundraiser, and planning/hosting a fun celebration gathering. She was always busy coordinating all things for a very large family, a true COO of her family. She prayed every day at 3pm for the list of people she promised to pray for, and had a strong support of St. Jude Children’s Hospital research. At a certain season of life, she was cooking a regular nightly dinner for almost 15 people for a “regular” family dinner, including extra family members, friends, or exchange students who lived with the family and whom she became “mom”. She stayed up late selflessly with her children to help with school projects, sewed Halloween costumes from scratch, often hosted her son’s band practice and her children’s many friend gatherings. She would always be the one to remember everyone’s birthday and anniversary, sending the people she loved beautiful messages to celebrate them, and making them feel seen and celebrated! She lived a full life filled with love, loyalty, and friendship. She truly lived, loved, and laughed!

She is survived by her husband (Dr. Alan J. Touch), her three sons Whitney, Christopher, Matthew (wife Amy), and her daughter Melissa (Touch) Hughston (husband Phil), her “son”/grandchild Joshua, her niece Michelle, sisters Martha “Sug” Sefton and Penny Kirchhoff, many nephews and nieces, and her cherished grandchildren Emily, Sabrina, Melody, Bence, Charlie, Jones, Dalton, Owen, Sophia, Bailey, Nick, and Katie.

Her family and friends will miss the way she celebrated life with those she loved. Her family is her legacy. Those many lives that she touched will miss her presence, warmth, laugh, good advice, kindness, and intentionality, and the comfort of simply her presence. She is beloved. We will continue to honor her by our family celebrations.

In honor of her lifelong dedication to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, in place of flowers, please donate to this lovely charity supporting children and families.