Susanne Fay Thomas

Sue (Susanne) Fay Thomas passed away peacefully with family at her side on August 25, 2021 at the age of 89. Sue was born in Waterloo, Iowa to Mark and Rachel Higdon on April 14, 1932. She met her beloved husband of 40 years, Elwood Thomas, in Colorado while working at Grand Lake Lodge for a college summer. Elwood, also from Iowa and working in Colorado for the summer, was driving a tour bus. On many occasions she told her children, “I came back to Iowa at the end of that summer with $10 in my pocket, a new pair of shoes and the love of my life.”

Sue graduated from University of Northern Iowa with a B.A. in Elementary Education on June 3, 1955 and married Elwood two days later. Sue taught elementary school for many years in Iowa and Missouri. She was creative, vibrant and energetic, and devoted to the arts and education throughout her life. After teaching, Sue authored children’s books and stories, poetry, educational books for teachers, newspaper columns and historical fiction and non-fiction books focusing on Missouri history. She also worked for the Kansas City Museum for children’s exhibits and taught adult education classes at Maple Woods Community College. Sue served on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Center for the Book for 12 years and was an ambassador for the Kansas City Public Library.

Sue loved the outdoors, her yard and garden. In her later years she spent hours each day weeding, gardening and picking up sticks. She often laughed and said people would remember her as “the stick lady.”

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sister Betty. She is survived by her children Mark, Sandy and Steven, her granddaughter Elisabeth, her sister Linda and many loving nephews, nieces and extended family members. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. We will miss her wonderful presence, sense of humor and spirit.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Kansas City Public Library or the State Historical Society of Missouri.