Suzanne Devereaux Hilliker

Suzanne Devereaux Hilliker passed away Sunday January 9, 2022 at home under the care of her family (her loving daughter Priscilla provided the 24/7 care) managed through Hosparus of Louisville. Born Suzanne Katherine Weidner on July 3, 1925 in Louisville, she lived all her life in Kentucky. She attended Atherton High School for girls, Northern Kentucky Extension of the University of Kentucky and Kentucky Southern College. After raising a family, she found her true calling in art. She exhibited at the St. James Art Fair for many years, Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church Art Festival, First National City Bank, Berea Art Festival and many others. She was a member of the Kentucky Watercolor Society and had her own Art School for 12 years with her friend Bill Piper. Her special talent was in the painting of animals, especially dogs. She also painted watercolor landscapes with a special flair for capturing the beauty and character of the scene. Her life long love of animals is depicted in the picture above. Springer spaniels were her only dogs for many years, but in the later years she turned to rescue dogs. She continued to paint weekly with her wonderful friend, Ann Schmitt who is the daughter of her best friend for 70+ years (Dorothy Thomas) and her beloved step daughter in law, Shelia Hilliker. She leaves behind her rescue dog, Bronson and her Kentucky Humane Society kitten, Molly. She loved every animal she met and for years would walk her dogs and greet every dog in the neighborhood and reward them with a treat.

Suzanne was married to Richard W. Devereaux Jr. from 1945 till his death in 1983. She married Donald Hilliker in 1986 until his death in 2013. Both Richard and Donald were World War 2 Veterans.

Suzanne leaves behind her daughter Priscilla Gott (Mike), son Mike Devereaux (Betty), grandchildren, Jeff Devereaux (Shelley), Jonathan Devereaux, Major Ellinore Brandy and James Lewis (Natasha) as well as step children David Hilliker (Jena), Nancy Sullo (Ed) and Jim Hilliker (Shelia) along with 6 great grandchildren and 12 step great grandchildren.

Suzanne is preceded in death by her mother (Katherine Bishop Weidner) and father (Walter S. Weidner), step daughter Laura Novak and granddaughter Cindy Devereaux.

Most of all, she leaves behind a wonderful group of relatives, friends and neighbors who regularly visited and looked out for her after Don died in 2013. Suzanne lived a full life and as she said 5 days ago, “she didn’t regret a thing”. Her life included losing the family home in the 1937 Flood, the divorce of her mother and father, the Great Depression, WW2 and the loss of her 2 husbands, a step daughter and a granddaughter. She was an inspiration to everyone who met her throughout her life!

Funeral services were held at Resthaven Funeral Home in a private ceremony. A life celebration will be held at a later date to be announced where her life and art will be displayed for all friends and family.

If you love animals, please consider a donation to the Kentucky Human Society in Suzanne’s honor.