On Friday, May 14, 2021, Suzanne McDougle Graham passed away peacefully with her three children and brother, holding her closely. Suzi was born on August 24, 1947, in Houston, Texas to Calvin McDougle and Elizabeth “Betsy” Poe of Houston, Texas. Growing up, she loved spending her summers skiing on Lake Travis and going with her dad to work at the University of Houston where she perfected her dive at the campus pool. In 1965 she graduated from Bellaire High school and enrolled at UH. While her journey to her dream job was one with many bends and turns, her role with UTMB and TDC allowed her the opportunity to provide compassionate care to those diagnosed with HIV and Hepatitis. She was incredibly proud of the work that she was doing and loved to talk about the benefits of Tele Medicine.
Being a mom meant everything to Suzi. Her three children, Rodney Allen Mitchell, Allison Paige Burnett and Rachel Suzanne Graham were the touchstones of her life. She was also blessed with a close friendship and love for her baby brother, Patrick McDougle, who after the loss of their parents she talked to on the phone just about every day. Being Nana to Spencer, Lauren, Dylan, and Calvin “Nash”, brought her the joy of puzzle time, science experiments and sleep overs.
Suzi was a talented artist; her pen and ink pieces are cherished by friends and family. She loved going to the plant nursery, spending time at the Heights Library, driving with the windows down, and piling up with a good book. From dancing in the kitchen with a cup towel on her shoulder, dropping everything to slow dance to “Levon” by Elton John, laughing with her family at the dinner table, to being the constant supporter, for all of these things, she will be missed.
She is survived by her son Rod Mitchell and his wife Cheryl Mitchell of Houston; daughter Paige Burnett and her husband Mervyn Burnett of Round Rock; and daughter Rachel Graham and her partner Erin Collins of Houston. She is also survived by her brother Patrick McDougle and his partner Kim Hogstrom of Houston, and will be greatly missed by her grandkids Spencer Mitchell, Lauren Mitchell, Dylan Burnett and Nash Burnett, as well as many other family and friends.
The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 5, 2021 in the chapel of Heights Funeral Home at 3 PM.
