Susie Mae Dunlap (Brown), 73, of South Charleston, peacefully transitioned surrounded by love on May 28 at Hubbard Hospice West at Thomas Hospital with her beloved daughter Debbie holding her hand and sister/sidekick Lou, niece Erin and family, sister-in-law Crystal, and Susie’s 3-lb. canine companion Sophie by her side.
Among those waiting to embrace her in Heaven were her loving mother, Doris Harless; father, Lewis Brown; brother, George Brown; nephew, Chris Holbert; and best friend, Joan Hensley Cecil.
Left to cherish her memory until they meet again are her daughter and the light of her life, Deborah Ann, and her “favorite son-in-law”, Scott Wilson of Charleston, SC; sisters, Lena Allawat and Lou Williford of South Charleston; brothers, Jesse Brown (Jean) and Preston Brown (Jeannie) of Sod; sister-in-law, Pamela Brown of Osseo, MI; sister-in-law, Crystal Brown of Lancaster, OH; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jerry and JoAnn Dunlap of Cross Lanes; aunt, Lyndell Shaffer of Sod; nieces and nephews, Shawn Allawat (Angie), Lee Ann Brown, Erin Lee (Adam), Kellie Toledo (Ulises), Tina Brown-Piper (Kevin), Jesse “JR” Brown, Scott Brown (Cassi), Brian Brown (Krisy), and Melissa Brown; many great nieces and nephews and their families; and numerous other family and friends including Debbie’s mother-in-law, Jan Wilson, and Susie’s adopted daughters, Stacy Atkins, Shannon Phillips, Jennie Pringle, Brooke Bailey, Tammy Smith and Shannon Williams.
Susie was an extraordinary woman in a pint-sized package. She was strong, independent, hard-working, intelligent, resilient, generous, loving, sassy, and she had a great sense of humor. As the owner of ‘Flowers by Susie’ in Davis Creek for 30 years, Susie was a well-loved, respected member of the community and was considered family to many of her customers for whom she provided beautiful floral arrangements through the years. Susie never met a stranger, had a unique knack for making friends everywhere she went and stayed active well into her retirement. Susie enjoyed traveling to Charleston, SC to spend time with Debbie and Scott, and she loved going to the beach, especially Kiawah Island. In recent years, she and her partner-in-crime, baby sister Lou, made many fun memories on their road-trip adventures to Ohio, shopping trips to their favorite stores where Susie would often find it funny to hide from Lou, and their frequent lunches with sister Lena. Her positivity, her love and her generous spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Susie’s daughter, Debbie, wishes to send special thanks to her medical teams at Boone Memorial Hospital and Thomas Health Systems, including but not limited to her longtime primary care physician, Dr. Chad Adkins and his team, especially Julie; her oncologist, Dr. Narender Jogenpally, Emily and their team; her radiation oncologist, Dr. Tara Hansen and her team, especially sweet Rindi; and the caregivers who provided love to her while she was inpatient on the 2nd and 3rd floors recently – I am eternally grateful. Lastly, my heartfelt gratitude to the Hubbard Hospice West caregivers who demonstrated the highest levels of care, respect, love and thoughtfulness during the final days of my mom’s life and who nurtured me during the most difficult days of mine – I will never forget you.
In keeping with Susie’s wishes, she will be cremated and a celebration of life for family and friends will be scheduled at a later date. Memorial donations may be made in Susie’s name to Hubbard Hospice West at Thomas Hospital https://www.hospicecarewv.org/make-a-donation/.
I went to high school with Suzi. She was a fun person. She had a gift for flower arrangements. She was a lovely woman.
My deepest sympathy for Debbie, family and friends. Susie treated me like a daughter when she was dating my father. I will always remember her kindness and thoughtfulness. She will be truly missed by all that knew her. I am so sorry for your loss.
She was always helpful and kind to the needs of the Alum Creek VFW.
A very sweet friend you will be missed