Susan Watson Klakoff

June 6, 1960 – July 19, 2024

Susan was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the second child in what would be five children, with Susan as the only girl. Growing up, she enjoyed reading, particularly the every two weeks trips to the Rocky Mount Library to get new books. Her favorite series was the Happy Hollisters. Her favorite movie growing up was “The Three Lives of Thomasina.” She enjoyed visiting her grandparents and cousins in Virginia and North Carolina.

She graduated as valedictorian from Northern Nash Senior High School in 1978. She attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where she majored in education. At North Carolina, she was a member of the Marching Tar Heel Band for football games and the pep band for basketball games. Some of the people she met in the band remained her closest and best friends.

After graduation, she taught public school in Emporia, Virginia for several years before starting a career in business. Her business career took her to live in Atlanta, Georgia and Austin, Texas before she returned to North Carolina.

In Austin, she found two things that shaped the love she shared the rest of her life, Jason Klakoff and shelties. Her first sheltie was named Rigby. Jason and Susan were married in 1998.

Susan and Jason’s life together involved being foster parents and forever homes for a number of dogs, visits with both their families, cookouts with friends and family, serving dinners at the Raleigh Rescue Mission, going on cruises together, cheering for the Hurricanes and Tar Heels, and being members of the Elks Lodge in Raleigh and later Oak Island.

Susan was preceded in death by her father Ray Watson, Sr., and a brother, David Watson.

She is survived by her husband, Jason Klakoff; mother, Mary Rowland Watson; her brothers, Ray Watson, Jr., Jeffrey (Alice) Watson, and Andrew (Tammy) Watson; nieces, Emily (Andrew) Austin, Sara Watson, Katelyn (Matt) Mills and Jordan Garris; nephews, Ben (Karina) McCabe, Jacob (Lori) McCabe, and Ethan Watson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ted and Cathy Klakoff; and sister-in-laws, Sara (Ryan) Redenbaugh, and Alina (Tony) Black, and their families.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made in Susan’s memory to Triangle Sheltie Rescue, online at www.triangleshelties.com, by mail at PO Box 426, Youngsville, NC 27596 or to Meals on Wheel of Rocky Mount, PO Box 7611, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

Through her foster parenting dogs over the years, Susan and Jason provided home and love to dogs that later joined a place mentioned in the poem Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

A celebration of life service will be held at Saturday, July 27th, 2:00 PM, at First Presbyterian Church Rocky Mount, 153 North Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Visitation with family in Fellowship Hall after the service.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com.

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.