Sue was born in Marshall, Missouri on August 24, 1948 to her parents, Nora (Gordon) and Jesse Jolliff. She was the fifth of six children and always had a sibling to play or fuss with while growing up. She often spoke about growing up with her siblings and cousins in her small hometown. She enjoyed school and liked to participate in sports. The love of learning continued throughout her life as she loved discovering interesting facts and information.
In November 1965, at the age of 17, she met her first husband, Nicholas Edwards. They married three months later on Valentine’s Day 1966. Eleven months later they welcomed the first of three daughters, Angela. Her mother attended the birth and made sure the nurses, doctors and other visitors knew that her daughter was 18 and married. The marriage would welcome two more daughters, Nickell (Nikki) in 1970 and Yvonne in 1974. She loved her girls and loved to see them excel in whatever they wanted to in life. She encouraged her daughters, and later, her grandchildren, to always do their best and made them believe they could do anything they set their mind to. She encouraged them to get special training and to pursue their education to have a solid career path.
Sue and Nick divorced in 1979 but remained good friends until his death in 2017. She married Nelson Ferguson in 1980 but divorced in 1990. She married Randy Stroemer in June 1995. They lived in south Kansas City and Northmoor, Missouri. Sue and Randy loved to be with their family and friends and watch the Kansas City Chiefs together. During the past 10 years, Randy was Sue’s caregiver as she battled many illnesses.
She was baptized in the Methodist faith in 1984 and attended church when she was able.
She was short in stature but always made up for it in her personality. She never liked to be called short and made sure everyone knew it didn’t matter how short she was, she could do anything.
Most of Sue’s 30+-year career was in the food service industry. She was a car-hop at the infamous Allen’s restaurant on the corner of 89th and State Line in south Kansas City. She developed lifelong friendships with many people she worked with. She worked hard and loved it most days. She especially loved working at Winstead’s. During her 15 years at Winstead’s, she served some local celebrities, often bringing home autographs from the celebrities she recognized. In particular, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, and George Brett would request to sit in her section when they dined at the restaurant. One of her favorite customers was Bill McGonigle, founder of McGonigle’s Meat Market. He would visit her every Saturday and she would have his black coffee waiting for him before he sat at the table and his food order was already being prepared. But, her most favorite customers were her daughters and grandkids. Many of her daughters’ friends would visit her as well and she loved catching up with them as she worked.
Sue had compassion for those less fortunate, including animals. She always offered a meal, a couch or an ear to those who needed it.
Her favorite things in life included her seven grandchildren, the color green, Chiefs football, junk food, fried chicken, the casino, reading (especially John Grisham books), her tablet, and her dogs. Her favorite holiday was Halloween and she enjoyed dressing up for the occasion. On birthdays, her family would look forward to her phone call when she would sing “Happy Birthday” to them.
Sue’s health had been a struggle most of her life, but in the last 10 years she had major illnesses that most people would not overcome. She amazed her medical teams at The University of Kansas Hospital and St. Luke’s North Hospital when she recovered from many acute illnesses. When the outcome of her illness looked uncertain, her girls would often remind the doctors that she had more strength than everyone in the room and that she would recover. As soon as she began to feel better she would pester the doctors to let her go home. The doctors would often laugh when they came into her room and she had make up on and asked, “Can I go home today?” Most of the time she still had to wait another day or two and she was always disappointed.
The most important life lesson Sue taught her children, and wanted her grandchildren to know, is that there is always a reason to believe. Sue had many trials and tribulations throughout her life but she always felt that everything would be okay, even when there wasn’t a logical way for a good outcome. She told her kids that you have to believe, particularly in Santa. During the 2014 Kansas City Royals playoff run, a local grocery store began selling “Believe” t-shirts. It was during this time that Sue had another life-threatening illness and her family bought those t-shirts to wear to the hospital to show their support for her and once again she beat the odds and recovered.
Preceding Sue in death are her parents, Nora Gordon Molina and Jesse Jolliff, her sister Bonnie Schull, her brothers Howard and Delbert Jolliff. She leaves behind her husband, Randy of the home; daughters Angela (Shawn) Cowing of Olathe, Nikki (Neal) Weaver of Shawnee, and Yvonne (Jason Arsee) Edwards of Lee’s Summit; her sister, Sheila (Jack) Newman, her brother, Rick (Pat) Jolliff of Marshall; her stepsister, Judy Desmond of St. Louis; her grandchildren, Jenna, Justin, and Jacob Weaver, Autumn Edwards, Harper and Alexander Cowing, and Lianne Rothberg; her beloved dogs, Frankie and Conner; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Sue’s family wants to thank the medical staffs at The University of Kansas Health System, St. Luke’s North, and Clay-Platte Family Medicine. They appreciate the often heroic efforts of keeping her alive for the past 10 years.
Memorial contributions can be made to Great Plains SPCA, KC Pet Project or give a pint of blood in her honor. Sue received almost four gallons of blood during her illnesses through the years.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate her life on Saturday, November 10 with visitation at 12:00 and the funeral service following at 1:00 at Mt. Moriah at 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri. Should you attend the services the family requests you to wear the color green in her honor.
