She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, David C. Claverie, mother, Suzanne Marguerite Maylin Willis, father, John Perry Willis, Jr., aunt, Bernadine Maylin Donahue and her husband, Elwood, uncle David Hopkins Willis, and cousins Patrick Michael Donahue and Peggy Willis Baldo.
She is survived by her brother, John Perry Willis, III (Jane), nephew, John (Jay) Perry Willis, IV, niece, Kristine (Kristi) Willis Boyer (Tommy), grand nieces Worth and Jane Perry Willis, grand nephews Brady and Christian Boyer, aunt, Betty Percival Willis, cousins Jo Ann Bonura (Ken), Arthur Donahue (Patty), Shelia Donahue, Elwood Donahue (Mary), Maureen Talley (Tommy), David Willis, Debra Heughan (Alan) and their loving families.
Sue Ann graduated from Annunciation High School in 1964, married Dave, the love of her life, in 1967, and went on to become a successful business owner.
Sue Ann taught ceramics for 15 years before she started hand-crafting porcelain dolls in 1977. In 1986 she opened the Victorian Attic Gift Shop in Olde Towne Slidell to showcase her unique French antique reproductions, each doll one-of-a-kind, named, signed and tagged “Dolls by Baby Sue”. Her work as a local doll artist was recognized for its excellence in competitive doll shows.
She was a member of Slidell’s Chamber of Commerce, an active member of Olde Towne Slidell Main Street and a past queen of its St. Patrick’s Day Parade and festivities. Sue later opened the Victorian Tea Room in Olde Towne, retiring in 2008.
Visitation for Sue Ann will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2024 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 pm.and interment following at St Louis Cemetery No 3, 3421 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana 70119.
Gifts in memory of Sue Ann may be made to St. Catherine’s Hospice, 429 West Airline Hwy., Suite F, LaPlace LA, 70068. www.stcatherineshospice.com.
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