Susan A. Wilson

Susan Adele Wilson passed away peacefully with her only daughter by her side and surrounded by family on January 26th from respiratory failure. The last ten months of her life she struggled with pneumonia and COPD, she spent over a hundred forty days in different hospitals in ICU or acute care. She fought incredible hard to overcome her illness yet three months ago she was diagnosed with advanced stages of COPD. She was given minutes to months to be here with her loved ones.

Susan was born on July 14, 1954, in Ogallala, Nebraska to her loving parents Edwin and Mignon Anderson. She was the baby and only daughter with two older brothers, David and Raymond Anderson. Early in her childhood she moved with her family to Boulder, Colorado where she firmly established herself as a daddy’s girl. When asked about her childhood, Sue would say she had the best childhood in the world because she grew up in Boulder, Colorado in the sixties with what she considered perfect parents. Her one regret was that she did not realize how prefect it was until she was older.

Sue met her first husband, Royal Ferrell, at the age of thirteen. They met at the roller-skating rink in Boulder, Colorado. They married at eighteen and after three years had the joy of her life, her only child April Ferrell. Sue and Royal divorced but remained friendly coparents throughout the rest of her life. Ironically, they actually lived in their daughter April’s house for the last eight years although, on different floors.

Denny Wilson and Sue reignited their relationship after years. They were together for five years before she was widowed. It was Denny who coined the name Suzy Q. Denny was the love of Suzy Q’s life.

Suzy Q had a huge heart. If someone needed something she did whatever it took to help them. Suzy Q had a great sense of humor that stayed with her until the very end. She couldn’t wait to mess with the telemarketers calling as she was saying goodbye to all those who loved her.

Suzy Q especially loved dogs. Some of her greatest sorrows were when her dogs Ezy, Tasha, and Donavon (the big black lab) passed away. She always made sure the family pets had what they needed. Her daughter April picked up a stray dog that had been abandoned along side the road. They named this ornery little mutt Henry. It became pretty apparent that Henry latched on to Suzy Q and from that point on they were inseparable.

Suzy Q was a mother and a grandmother to all the children in the family that included her daughter April and April’s children, Zack and Zade as well as her first husband’s children and grandchildren: Jazzmen and her children Nikko, Avvery, Derriky, Cole, and Jazzman; Samantha and her sons Jesse and Royal; Victoria and her son Emmett; Royal Jr; and Calvin. Her grandmothering didn’t stop there! She was a grandmother to any child that came into her sphere and needed grandmothering including her former sister-in-law’s children: Katie, Ellie, Molly, and Bella.

Suzy Q had a special relationship with Lisa Smith or as Suzy Q referred to her “as her leftover child.” This name came about because Lisa loved Suzy’s cooking and when April and Lisa came home Lisa ate the leftovers. Lisa has been a constant in Suzy’s life for over thirty years. She was doing things like making sure Suzy was at the hospital when April gave birth to her two children. Lisa tried to make Suzy’s final days special by making sure that Suzy had all her desires met like bringing the cherry pie, the Chinese food, and the fuzzy purple socks. Not to mention the support she gave to April during this trying time.

Suzy Q and Jen Zaerr adopted each other over thirty years ago. One of the proudest moments of Suzy Q’s life was when she had the pleasure of delivering Jen’s daughter Della on Suzy’s birthday. That is a bond she spoke about often. Jen has many good stories about the fun they had, ask Jen if you want to know about their shenanigans!

Most of you know that Suzy was a collector. She collected anything purple, fairies, miniatures, micro-minis, Hot Wheel cars, and a variety of other things. Suzy got started on her collections after she lost Denny. Her first partner in crime was Donhovan, her then son-in-law! Donhovan and Suzy Q began schlepping and collecting or as her daughter April sometimes referred to it, hoarding! The partnership was new but Donhovan had been friends with Suzy for many years and they continued to have a unique and special relationship until the end.

Suzy Q had many professions throughout her life. She loved being a bartender, a homemaker, an artist, and a collector: specifically, toy collecting. Suzy Q and her brothers were excellent artists and Suzy actually drew charcoal portraits in the Crossroads mall with her brothers when she was in her twenties. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, suduko, coloring, and the Sunday paper comics. Suzy loved a good party and to have fun! No matter what she was engaged in, she threw her whole self into it.

Suzy is survived and missed dearly by her loving daughter April Ferrell (Dominick). Forever cherished and remembered by her grandsons Zack and Zade and her adopted grandsons Nikko and Derriky. She is survived by her brother David Anderson and his daughter Mya Anderson Hatfield (Roger) and her deceased brother Raymond Anderson’s children Shawna Anderson, Erik Anderson, Carrie Anderson, and Sarah Anderson.

Suzy’s memory lives on with Jazzmen Ferrell (David) and her children Nikko, Avvery, Derriky, Cole, and Jazzy; Samantha Ferrell, and her children Jesse and Royal; Victoria Ferrell and her son Emmett; Royal Ferrell Jr.; and Calvin.

Suzy was predeceased by her husband Denny Wilson, her father Edwin Anderson, her mother Mignon Anderson, her aunt Maxine Sorenson, and her older brother Raymond.

Suzy Q’s family would like to thank most of the doctors and nurses that have cared for her over the last ten months and specifically the staff at the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, who helped make the end of her life meaningful and memorable for Suzy and her family and friends.

April would like to thank everyone who has helped us through this great loss. Many of you dropped everything to come and say goodbye and tell stories. The family would like to thank all of you for your kind words, donations, and generosity that made this celebration of Suzy’s life possible. It really does take a village and April and Suzy have an amazing village.

A visitation for Susan will be held Wednesday, February 1, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman Street, Longmont, CO 80501. A celebration of life will occur Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Howe Mortuary Chapel, 439 Coffman Street, Longmont, CO 80501. A committal service will occur Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Mountain View Cemetery, 620 11th Avenue, Longmont, CO 80501.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for the Wilson family.