Suzanne Marie Graham Phistry

Suzanne was born in Texas City, Texas, to Raymond Earl Graham and Rosemary Stephenson Graham on February 2, 1968. She attended school at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and graduated from Bishop Lynch Catholic High School in Dallas. Suzanne attended Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio and received her bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in English from the University of North Carolina in Fayetteville.

Suzanne worked for Maritz Automotive; coming to Maritz from the education and training world. At Maritz, she quickly became successful in helping her automotive industry clients provide a better purchasing experience. Her friendly, open and engaging approach with her clients inspired cohesive and proactive relationships. Suzanne used her communication and teaching skills to drive positive action, and her energy and enthusiasm allowed new ideas to be introduced with ease. There are very likely still several hundred little yellow plastic men and bottles of bubbles on desks in car dealerships across the Southwest, since her encouragement was often prizes from Party City!!! Suzanne always warmed people's hearts and opened their minds to accomplish the work that needed to be done. Her kind and respectful demeanor with a “southern flair,” captured the dealer participants' attention while she guided them on how to improve their businesses and delight their customers.

Suzanne had deep passion for her family. She was a devoted, loving, caring daughter, mother, sister and aunt. As her parents’ health began to fail, Suzanne devoted herself to their care.

Suzanne’s joy and sunshine is her daughter, Hannah. Her loving warm spirit will live on in Hannah and in the many lives she touched. Her family will continue to celebrate the way Suzanne would light up any room she walked into, her ability to get a group to participate in hours of board games at family gatherings and to somehow make each person feel like she was there just to be with them. She was one of those rare people who never had a negative word to say about anyone, and for those who knew her, Suzanne was a source of constant encouragement, consideration and love. Suzanne’s warm embrace and beautiful smile will continue to warm our hearts until we see her again.

Suzanne is preceded in death by her father and mother Ray and Rosemary Graham. She is survived by her beautiful daughter Hannah, her siblings; Laurie Graham Wheeler (Wayne), Stephen Michael Graham (Beth), Raymond Matthew Graham (Christy), and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces.

A celebration of Suzanne’s life will be held at 2 pm Sunday, December 11, at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, 8011 Frankford Rd., Dallas, Texas 75252. Please help us celebrate Suzanne’s vibrant life by wearing purple Sunday.