Suzie Salazar Baysinger, 82, of Dallas, Texas, went home to be with Jesus, her Lord and Savior, on December 29, 2020. Suzie was a member of The Journey Baptist Church in Lewisville, Texas, and loved and appreciated her church family. She passed peacefully from this earth at home, lovingly surrounded by her children. She is survived by her eight children and their spouses: Cynthia Reyes of The Colony, TX; Diana Chiles and Richard of Garland, TX; Jackie Hale of Linden, TX; Robert Baysinger, Jr. and Connie of Garland, TX; Theresa Morris and Mike of Duncanville, TX; Thor Smiley Baysinger and Kimberly of Dallas, TX; Linda Lane and Chris of Midlothian, TX; and Lisa Akrawi and Newroz of The Colony, TX. She is also survived by six siblings, their spouses, and one sister-in-law: Joe Salazar of Little Rock, AR; Lalie Dean and Tom of Mesquite, TX; Carmen Ward of Irving, TX; Irene Salazar of Glendale, AZ; Augustine Salazar of Dallas, TX; Charlie Gamez and Angie of Austin, TX; and Irina Salazar of Bedford, TX. She was the proud matriarch and “OG” of 18 grandchildren, 26 (3 more on the way) great grandchildren, 3 (1 more on the way) great-great grandchildren, and many, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends that loved her dearly and sought out both her mischief and her sage wisdom.
Suzie was preceded in death by her parents, Julian Salazar, Sr. and Jessie Sornia; husband, Robert Raymond Baysinger, Sr; husband, Santos Martinez; brothers, Julian Salazar, Jr., Phillip Salazar, and Arthur Salazar; granddaughter, Anita Melissa Throne; great-great grandson, Treshon Derick Rambo, Jr.; sister-in-law, Audrey Salazar; brother-in-law, Roy Braswell; and son-in-law, Billy Joe Hale.
There was nothing Suzie could not do! In addition to being a homemaker, she had many professions throughout her lifetime and was always excited to take on new challenges and reinvent herself. She started her professional career as a carhop at Dallas’ famous Sivil’s Drive-In at Ft. Worth Ave and Davis. Along life’s journey, she sold season tickets for the Dallas Cowboys; she was an Avon representative; she worked at a factory in Oak Cliff engraving glass and crystal; she was an accomplished seamstress that worked for Stockton’s of Dallas, Sunny South Fashions, and Dallas Uniform Company that made the Dallas Police Department uniforms. She and her husband, Bob, were owners of the El Gypsy in Dallas. She broke many gender barriers in excelling in male dominated professions: including JUNKING; buying and selling commercial electrical and air conditioning equipment; learning to weld at Virginia Chemical; and becoming a coast-to-coast Big Rig trucker – “What’s your 20, Texas Lady?” After a few years on the road, Suzie went to school to train as a bank teller to appease her concerned children and stay closer to home. You can probably guess how that turned out. In true Suzie fashion, she told them to stick it at $12/hour, and she was on to her next adventure… on the road. She reinvented herself once again by taking her Three T’s Taqueria and famous homemade tamales to the public at special events, including the Shreveport Mudbug Festival, Skydive Spaceland (she jumped out of an airplane there too… but that’s another story), and a motorcycle rally in the Hill Country.
Suzie loved life. She loved her hats. She loved to party and play poker with the best of ‘em! She was tough, and she “covered every inch of the ground [she stood] on.” She loved to be surrounded by family and friends, no matter how loud and rowdy things would get. She loved to go treasure hunting, and if you went with her, you knew to prepare for the long haul. Most of all, she loved her family and friends. She was gifted in making everyone feel like they were her favorite. Not many people get to leave an empty bucket list here on the earth, but she did it ALL with fortitude, grace, and a little gangster. Her legacy is vast, and she left sprinkles of herself in every member of her family.
Suzie will be laid to rest at Laurel Land Memorial Park, and her services will be held at Laurel Land Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 3, 2021, from 12-4:00. A well-earned Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, January 4, 2021, at 12:00pm, and a graveside service will directly follow. Live streaming of the service will be available via Laurel Land Facebook page and from their website.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – 2 Timothy 4:7
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.14.0