She met her husband Joe Garner of Tyler Texas during WWII. He was a teletype operator with the Army Air Corp stationed in Italy and she was a teletype operator with Western Union in Omaha. They started flirting over the teletype system and fell in love. After the war in 1947, they got married on June 17th at the First Christian Church of Amarillo. When the ceremony was over they left for their honeymoon in Colorado and on the way, Joe had an appendicitis and was hospitalized in Colorado Springs for a week! Upon their return, they bought a house in Tyler on Mockingbird Lane. They had two sons, David and Jody. In 1958 Suzanne went to work at the new General Electric plant in Tyler in the Data Processing Department. She stayed in that position until her retirement in 1992. Suzanne was a member of First Christian Church in Tyler for 75 years and enjoyed spending time with her church family and decorating her Sunday school class.
Suzanne had many friends and was very social. She had a witty sense of humor and loved to give and receive “ugly” birthday cards. She also loved spending time in the kitchen baking and cooking. She always had a fresh pan of brownies or cookies ready for the grandkids and great grandkids.
In the early 1980’s, Suzanne discovered a love for oil painting. Taught by her friend Nancy Burkhouse, Suzanne painted many portraits, landscapes and still art pieces. She sold several pieces and won several blue ribbons at the East Texas State Fair. Suzanne always held a special place in her heart for animals. She loved cats and enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels in her yard. She also enjoyed watching the humming birds drink from their feeders. The love and selfless commitment she had to her family has been unwavering for her whole life. Her legacy, love and life lessons will live on and continue to be shared for generations to come.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Joe Garner; her parents, and one sister. She is survived by her children, David Garner and Jody Garner of Tyler, TX; three grandchildren, Camaron Garner (Trista), Haley Jones and Jessica Garner Lindsey (Isreal) of Tyler, TX and three step-grandchildren, Jim Johnson, Jeff Holland and Jennifer Parker; seven great-grandchildren, Camaron Jones (Jennifer) and Casey Jones, Jordan Lindsey, Lauren Lindsey (Oscar), Matthew Lindsey, Preston Lindsey and Grayson Lindsey; And two great-great grandchildren, August Jones and Adalyn Leyva.
Services for Suzanne will be held on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Lloyd James Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at Cathedral in the Pines in Tyler. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, Oct. 25th from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
The family would like to thank Hospice of East Texas and especially her caregivers Ashley, Selena, Lori and Denise for the great care and compassion they showed Suzanne in her final days.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lloydjamesfuneralhome.com for the Garner family.
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