Susanne Elwood Houston, 94, of Lawrence, Kansas, died peacefully on July 11th, 2023, at Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living with loving family and faithful cat (Molly) by her side.
Sue was born August 24th, 1928 in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Samuel Harold Elwood and Pleasant Maria (Holyoke) Elwood. While growing up, she attended The Barton School just northwest of the city in remote and beautiful Topanga Canyon. Later, her family moved to Omaha, Nebraska where she graduated from Brownell Hall, after which she attended Stanford University in California. At Stanford, Sue met the love of her life and future husband, Clay. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in International Relations, and later attended graduate school at Fort Hays State University in Kansas where she developed a passion for medieval history
On the same day as their university graduation, June 19th, 1950, Susanne Holyoke Elwood and Alexander Clayton Houston were married in the Stanford Memorial Church.
Sue and Clay lived in California for a few years, and then in Hawaii while Clay served in the United States Army. They eventually relocated and raised their family in Hays, Kansas. While there, she helped to found the local chapter of the League of Women Voters. After her husband’s retirement, they moved to a country home near Baldwin City, Kansas, where they enjoyed raising goats and other animals, before eventually settling in nearby Lawrence.
Sue was an avid gardener who also enjoyed cooking, travels to England, and researching family genealogy.
Sue was preceded in death by her husband Clay, and her sister Ruth. She is survived by her daughter Laura (Edward) Weaver of London, Canada; her son Peter Houston of Lawrence, Kansas; grandchildren Clayton, Holly, Alex, Eleanor, and Mariah; and great-grandchildren Theodore and Joshua.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lawrence Public Library or the Lawrence Humane Society, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
