October 17, 1945 to March 10, 2022
Susanne Marie Kelley passed away peacefully on March 10, after fighting a brave and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Family and loved ones were gathered by her side over the last week.
Susanne was born in Yakima, Washington to Fred and Marie Thomas. Born with a smile on her face, Susanne lived life to the fullest, always spreading love to those around her with an infectious laugh and charismatic personality. She was the oldest of three siblings and helped raise her two younger brothers, David and Bob. She moved to The Dalles, Oregon when she was in high school and later attended Oregon State University for two years before she became a stewardess for United Airlines. Based in Seattle for work, she later met her husband Tom who also worked for United.
Susanne and Tom were married on March 22, 1969. Sharing a love for travel, they honeymooned in South America and continued to travel all over the world during their nearly 53 years of marriage. Some of their favorite trips included Italy, Spain, China, South Africa, and Ireland.
Moving to Portland in 1971, Susanne and Tom bought their first home and raised their family. Their first daughter, Kimberley, was born in October of 1971, with their second daughter, Shannon, arriving in May of 1975. Susanne loved everything about being a mom and was very involved in the girls’ lives. She was an avid volunteer at Rock Creek Elementary School and enjoyed watching the girls take part in school plays, Girl Scouts, soccer/softball, piano lessons, and dance classes. Favorite family travel included Sun River and Black Butte, in addition to lifetime trips to Paris, London, and the Bahamas. As the girls got older, Susanne became a car broker for the family car dealership, selling cars to family and friends for over 20 years. She was also an amazing gardener, cook, and entertainer, who loved fashion and dressing beautifully for any occasion.
Susanne was a beautiful person and will be forever missed as a cherished wife, mother, grandma, sister, and friend. Susanne is survived by her husband, Tom; daughters, Kimberley (Sean) and Shannon (Ryan); four incredible grand-children, Taylor, Chandler, Carson, and Justin; and brothers, David (Janet) and Bob (Annette).
A chapel service and celebration of life reception will be held at Finley Sunset Hills Memorial Park at noon on Saturday, March 19, 2022. To honor Susanne, the family requests that attendees wear bright colors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association.
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