Suzanne Lee Conklin

Suzie was born September 23, 1944 to Robert and Berniece (Beaumont) Anderson in Moline, Illinois. Suzie had one older sister, Bobbye Lynn, and four younger brothers, Michael, Mark, Mitchell and Matthew. In 1957, the family moved across the country to Chula Vista, California, where Suzie would graduate from Chula Vista High School in 1962. Shortly after high school, Suzie met the love of her life, Wayne Conklin, and they married on June 17, 1966 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. They moved back to California in 1970, where they would eventually settle and raise their three children in the coastal community of Encinitas, CA.

Suzie attended San Diego State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in English and Education. Suzie was a proud educator, and also worked for the esteemed Dr. Charles Keeling at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California San Diego for several years.

Upon the high school graduation of their youngest daughter in 1989, Suzie and Wayne moved from Encinitas, CA to Bellingham, WA where they resided until 2012, when they moved to Loveland, CO to be closer to family.

Suzie was athletic and always very active. She was a pioneer of Women’s Soccer in the early 80’s, and eventually went on to help her team win the Over-60 National Championship in 2008. Her family lovingly referred to her as a “gym rat.” She loved attending dance and exercise classes multiple times per week at the recreation center in Loveland. Suzie also found joy in being part of book clubs, sewing and baking. For years, she spent much of her time making handmade baby blankets for any new mother she heard of, and eventually earned quite a reputation for these special in-demand keepsakes. She also cherished her frequent road trips with her sister Bobbye to Iowa throughout the years, to visit their many Beaumont cousins who they were extremely close with since childhood.

Suzie will be remembered most for her extraordinarily sweet demeanor and absolute selflessness; affectionately known by her entire family as “Saint Suzie.”

She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Wayne, their son David (Kelly), daughters Kerrie (Jaret) and Kathleen (Mark), and 8 grandchildren; Coleman, Alexander (Laura), Nicholas, Jamie, Kylie, Kelsey, Teagan and Lauren. She also had one very special great-grandchild, Chloë Elise, who was fond of calling Grandma Suzie several times per week. Suzie is also survived by brothers Michael (Deborah), Mark (Carrie), Mitchell (Nancy) and Matthew, and more than 30 nieces and nephews. Suzie is preceded in death by her mother, Berniece, father, Robert, and sister, Bobbye Lynn.

A private family service is being held.