Sue Ellen Krick

Her parents were Stanley Joseph Krick and Shirley Marie Landry. At 10, Sue Ellen’s family moved to Tampa, Florida, but stayed close to maternal roots in New Orleans. She truly was gifted--an incredible combination of her devoted parents' strengths—her mother’s outgoing, sparkling personality, cooking skills, and love of felines coupled with her father’s keen intellect and perseverance dedicated to civic and church leadership along with volunteerism. Two of her beloved maternal uncles were extremely prominent civic leaders of deep impact in their communities of New Orleans and Los Angeles. Sue Ellen’s life followed family footsteps.

She was a top scholar beginning at Incarnation Catholic School and A.P. Leto High School where she enjoyed thespian activities acting in school plays. She graduated from the University of South Florida majoring in criminology and earning a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

She became a pioneering female Deputy Sheriff in the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department, finishing her recruit training November 1982, under Sheriff Walter Heinrich. A neighbor recalled her racing to rescue a little girl from two assailants before her backup could arrive to prevent Sue Ellen’s hospitalization from injuries. Later in life, due to Sue Ellen’s life-saving courage, that girl became a nurse keeping in touch with her. Sue Ellen told her beloved neighbor, “They could hurt me, but they weren’t going to hurt that little girl.” That was Sue Ellen.

She went on to earn her Juris Doctor in 1992 at South Texas College of Law in Houston. She won the moot court competition and wrote law journal articles on international and environmental law. She passed the Florida Bar Exam, remaining a member in good standing for over 30 years. Her main practices were in disability and social security law followed by insurance defense, concluding with several years In Sarasota in condominium and homeowners association law, also acting for a time as head of civil litigation for her firm. She earned friendships and trust from clients, as well as from judges early in her career winning 92% of administrative cases.

When Sue Ellen taught weekly as adjunct Professor of Law at Tampa’s Cooley Law School, she regularly was top-rated by students. After she passed the bar her mother became ill. As she did for her father much later, she in each case interrupted her career to tend to their care and life end at home. As a woman of strong faith and of love of life, Sue Ellen was and is secure in God’s love.

Sue Ellen’s passions encompassed New Orleans cooking, and love and care for cats, many of whom she rescued. Sue Ellen foresaw a distant future where all sentient beings were treated with compassion. Special travels included a pastoral honeymoon in Hana, Maui, an Alaska cruise and a law school tour to Europe, Moscow and Israel where she met the then-young future prime minister watching over her group’s security.

In 2001 Sue Ellen married Omar A. Olson of Luverne, Minnesota, at the California Club in Los Angeles. The deeply-in-love couple had.a 36-year relationship filled with her care-giving.

Sue Ellen is survived by her husband of over 23 years, her dear younger sister of professional accomplishment Stacie Evans (Eric), and beloved niece Emma Elizabeth of Waxhaw, NC. Other survivors include dearly beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, nephews, and nieces, all of whom she was so very proud,

Special thanks to angels on earth whom she respected with gratitude—fellow brave law enforcement officers, family doctors, nurses, first responders such as EMS, military including her 2nd Armored veteran father, clergy, cherished work colleagues, and veterinarians who cared for many little ones—“my babies”.

A celebration of life will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, a memorial to honor Sue Ellen is welcome to St. Francis Society Animal Rescue (Tampa).

Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park and Funeral Home