BOMBER MEMORIAL

SUSAN KAY "SUZ"/"SUSIE" NELSON SMITH ~ Class of 1967
December 18, 1948 - November 1, 2018

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Susan Kay "Suz"/"Susie" Nelson Smith was born in Richland on December 18, 1948, the third daughter for Vic and Mildred Nelson. She passed away November 1, 2018 in a Poulsbo rehab center after a long illness.

Her first diagnosis in 2013 was Hydrocephalus when tests were done at Virginia Mason Hospital. After seeing a Tacoma neurologist, he diagnosed Lewey Body Disease with multiple system atrophy, a disease resembling dementia.

She was "Daddy's Little Girl" and grew up eating hotdogs, potato chips and cream cheese dip. She attended Sacajawea Elementary School, Chief Jo Junior High School and graduated from Richland's Columbia High School with the Class of 1967, where she had close friendships with girlfriends....Linda, Myra, Beth, Vicki and Sharman. After graduating high school, Suz went to Central Washington State College for two years and CBC where she took medical classes.

On June 15, 1974 Suz married Charles "Chuck" Smith of Benton City. They moved multiple times because of Chuck's work (according to mom's memoirs): Kennewick, Kansas, Richland, Ohio, Richland, Portland and Bremerton where Suz worked as a receptionist and bookkeeper at Bremerton Children's Clinic and then retired. She had also worked in phone sales at Sears in Richland, a nursing home, a tanning salon and a T-Shirt business.

Chuck and Suz have two children and four grandchildren.

Suz was the most thoughtful daughter taking care of our mom in her home. She was a loving mom, daughter, daughter-in- law, aunt and sister. She always remembered every birthday and holiday by sending cards to us, our spouses and children. She loved to crochet and give her projects as gifts, loved her cats and was an avid reader. A Kleenex box was always sitting by her chair and probably inherited allergies from our mom. Visits from grandchildren were very special.

Planning a spring celebration in Richland.

"We Love You, Suz!" Jan ('60), Donnie ('63) and Debbie ('77).

Miller-Woodlawn Mortuary in Bremerton handled the arrangements.

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).