Susan Denise, Neesie, Sweet Cheeks, Hey Mama!, Old Debil Woman, She cherished most Momma and Granny Denise Ozment Dawson

Susan Denise Ozment (don't call her Susan!) Her essence cannot be bound by mere words... you had to experience her to understand the unbridled love and joy she exuded and gave so honestly and freely. Daughter of Jack Lawrence Ozment Sr. and Betty Lou Joyner Ozment, she deeply loved her Momma and Daddy. Everyone says they have the best mom, but I know I truly do. She was my best friend, my momma, my teacher, my hero and so much more. Her children are Heather Leigh Lattimore Riser and William Lattimore, and she is Granny to her two dear grandsons Charles Liam Riser and Sebastian Lee Riser. She loved being a Momma and Granny more than anything and doted on her loved ones. I have never been so loved and cared for.

Denise always excelled at school, and went back in her forties to college; we were so proud of her and her of herself. A talented artist, a classroom mom who went to school with me to bring cupcakes and make crafts - she was my Girl Scout leader for years and loved all the girls in her care dearly. She taught me how to love others and the world around me just by being herself and carrying on girl scouts with me like she was as a child.

Denise loved making people smile and laugh, her own laugh being the most infectious I have ever encountered! She loved and cared for any animal that crossed her path and volunteered at the SPCA. Many childhood memories are of stopping to get box turtles and snapping turtles off the road, rushing to the vet that took wild animals, her and I fighting off a hawk to save a seagull. She was the defender of all! She loved teaching her grandbabies and showing them the world, making flower chains like she taught me, doing art work with them, going strawberry picking, picking Christmas trees at the farmers market, and playing, playing, playing! She felt so blessed to spend every day with her babies, and cherished every moment.

She loved scary movies, bad scary movies, really bad scary movies, and campy movies. She loved music and taught me to let it speak for me, the poetry and ability it has to touch ones soul. One of her many true gifts she gave is the amazing way she experience this world, seeing through her eyes for almost 30 years has been one of my greatest blessings. She saw the world in such a pure unjaded way, always making her own silver linings.

The woman could cook! The woman could dance, sing (though not on an octave most could appreciate), she could light up a room, set up a story, make you say "oooo that sounds fun!", but above all else she could LOVE.

Her heart was always in the mountains, in a little simple cabin with a rocker on the porch and naked blond headed grandbabies running through wildflowers. I learned from the best how to listen to nature, just pull over and go exploring. That looks neat let’s stop, oooo what’s there?! Just stop to pick wildflowers. Tim and I always brought her back a chunk of mountain when we went....literally a one year old baby sized chunk, and you would've thought it was the moon itself it meant so much to her.

She loved camping and being outside -looking at stars, making pictures in clouds, making wildflower wreaths, listening for animals, just closing her eyes and feeling and smelling the air. She had a hippy heart with a rock and roll soul and I'm so thankful I was taught to live from her. She always called me her Hippeee Baybeee and I am that- her mini me.

She loved an excuse to celebrate. Ever since I was little holidays were all out. She adored Christmas. Christmas singing babies, making cookies, making cinnamon ornaments, picking and decorating the tree were a serious tradition laden with munchies and music. She loved watching everyone open their gifts; we loved watching her open hers. She’d get so excited and bounce in her seat! Always Christmas tree tarts, always handmade snowflakes, always my oatmeal and molasses cookies just for her.

Mommas own words, who better to describe this beautiful soul than herself...

I speak through music…what I am feeling, seeing, experiencing at any moment in time, I reach for my comfort...my God, and enrich, restore my soul with music. Music that can touch any soul, hearts who cannot be reached... in its purest perfection...a gifted child, who is truly talented, can reach and change millions of hearts… if you can grasp this, for just one moment in time, it will take you to a place that will move your soul with pure emotions and endless appreciation. You can share in that time, and place with that artist an undescribeable exultant love and happiness

I LOVE the North Carolina mountains, I am 56 years wise AND as round as I am tall, I love braided rugs on hardwood floors, I detest makeup, I love quilts, sunsets, quiet walks, stayin’ up late, old rock music (loud, you have to feel it!!), Maggie Valley NC, (one of the last family owned mountain towns ) old english bulldogs, the smell of freshly hung laundry, open windows, ALL animals, I love big hairy men who are also honest, truthful, kind, family oriented, an animal lover and God devoted men. (Kids say I should have married bigfoot! :)

Most of all I love my family and GOD always comes first!

I am very lovingly committed to my children Heather, William and Tim, I dearly love my brother Jack, big Sis Brenda, my Sis and Friend Lucille, and most of all...God!

I prefer soft blue jeans to a fancy dress, I'd rather have my hair in a pigtail ponytail than all dooed up, I'd rather be barefoot, nothing smells as good in the morning than coffee over and open fire, I prefer primitive camping over a hotel, I love to laugh and be silly, I love to dance at outdoor rock concerts (my daughter says I look like a hippy flailing about!!) I dislike fake and materialistic people, gossip, being rushed.

I like me!! and prefer to be single than having to shave my legs every day!! I am thankful for all my blessings God has given me.....very, very thankful!!

I Dearly, dearly LOVE and miss my Momma...Momma is in the arms of angels right now with my daddy, her tattoo was of a monarch butterfly, she loved black eyed suzzies!

I will meet you at the eastern gate...me in my tie-dyed t-shirt! I miss you both so much!