Susan Cathleen Foos

Susan was born on February 7, 1949, in Seattle, Washington, to William and Ingeborg Smith. Ingeborg was a German war bride. William is a WWII veteran. Susan has a half-brother, Herbert Wiegand, living in Munich, Germany. She traveled to Germany in 1984 to meet Herbert and his family. There, she also learned her mother’s family history, and a bit about the Munich area. She was proud she accomplished this on her own.

Susan has 7 other siblings residing in the United States; Robert Smith Jr., Marilyn Smith, Mertis Smith (wife Sharon, son Billy), Col Randy Smith, US Army (wife Carin, son Connor), Ricky Smith (daughter Elizabeth), Deborah Gibbs (husband Mark, daughter Mindy, son Daniel), and Helena (husband Donnie, daughter Shereena, son Brendan).

Susan’s biological mother Ingeborg died shortly after giving birth to Robert Smith Jr. in 1950. Robert Sr. remained in the armed services, serving in Korea. William Sr. remarried to Sue Coker Smith. Susan had a deep, life-long love of Sue. Susan’s early years were spent in Seattle, WA, with the love and support of the Smith Family.

Susan’s family moved to Frankfurt, Germany, where she spent her teenage years. She had many memories of this time; some good, some bad. Susan was the oldest child and developed a protective attitude for her family, lasting her entire life. After living in Frankfurt, the family moved back to the U.S., eventually settling in Security, CO, where Robert Sr. retired. Susan graduated from Harrison High School.

She left home after high school. Wedding Gilbert Abeyta, they had one son, Christopher Abeyta. This relationship was short and Susan became a single parent. She attended Pikes Peak Community College, studying nursing. Economics required her to work fulltime, so she stopped her education.

Susan became friends with the Henderson Family, and Margaret Gibson. She relied on this loving and giving family through many hard times, developing a life-long friendship.

Susan and Chris became estranged, after Susan tried everything in her power to help him with drug and emotional problems. This truly burdened her heart for the rest of her life.

Susan met Mark in 1981 and moved to Castle Rock, where the raised their two children, Matthew and Monika. Mark traveled extensively with his work, leaving Susan to hold down the fort and work. She had a very strong work ethic. She instilled this in her children. She was a disciplinarian, not letting her children get by without giving 100% effort in anything. Susan wasn’t afraid to voice her opinion to anyone, about anything, right or wrong. For this, I truly loved her.

She worked for King Soopers in Colorado Springs as a grocery clerk, meeting and developing many friendships on the West Side of Colorado Springs. After moving to Castle Rock, she worked in the Cottonwood store, until her children arrived. She then worked in the lunchroom for Douglas County Schools, while her children were small. She also worked in the deli in Safeway. Susan enrolled the children in the Academy Charter School, picking up and dropping them off every day. Making sure their work was completed was always a priority.

Susan returned to work for King Soopers in Castle Rock when it opened near our house. She worked there until she retired 5 years ago. If there was ever the correct job for a person, this was it for her. She loved being with customers, and they really enjoyed her company as well. She wasn’t a technology person, always struggling to be as fast as expected. She made friends with many coworkers and customers, which remain today. Everywhere she went, she would run into people to chat with.

Susan loved reading; she often read two to three novels a week. She also enjoyed working in her flower beds, and baking pies, cookies, and peanut brittle during the holidays. Remember? Oh, and cigarettes!

Susan made many trips to Arkansas and Tennessee to see Sue, and all the members of the Coker Family. She truly loved traveling to see them.

After Sue’s death, Susan had a hard time with depression. She traveled to the Czech Republic to see Randy, Carin, and Connor. Upon returning, her depression worsened. She was diagnosed with Bipolar depression with psychosis, and PTSD. She was very sensitive to how people perceived people with mental illness and didn’t like to leave her home much.

Susan was very excited for Matthew and Brenna and our 1st grandson due May 27, 2016.

Sorrowfully, she passed on May 26, 2016. She is loved deeply and will be missed by all.