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Susan Amanda Ritter Parish, 62, of Beardstown died Sunday morning, March 15, 2009, in her home.
She was born September 8, 1946, in Olney, the daughter of Howard Leland and Edith Amanda Ulmer Ritter. She married David E. Parish on August 22, 1970, at the First United Methodist Church in Olney.
Surviving is her husband, David Parish of Beardstown; two daughters, Amanda Beth Parish of Keizer, OR and Cathryne Lynn Parish of Washington, IL; her beloved dog Fritz; and her nephew, Chris Kirkwood of Olney.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Judith Sue Ritter.
Susan graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences and from Western Illinois University in 1976 with a Master of Arts degree in Speech and Language Pathology. She served as Speech and Language Pathologist for Beardstown Schools beginning in the fall of 1968 until her retirement in 2002 and then an additional two years for Triopia schools. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and Circle 4 in Beardstown, Beardstown Education Association serving as president in 1987, Exchange Club of Beardstown, and Cass County Historical and Genealogy Society. She graciously donated her time as a volunteer and was also a commission member of the Old Lincoln Courtroom and Museum in Beardstown. She enjoyed investigating and discovering her personal history in exploration of her genealogical background which found her and her husband traveling in search of the Ritter family past. The fervor and enthusiasm in her life was founded in the love and devotion in her heart for her family.
A private family burial held in Beardstown City Cemetery.
Published in The State Journal-Register - March 17, 2009
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Nancy Ellen Flick (Uhlmansiek) (1964)
I fondly remember Susie and me cruising up and down Main Street looking for friends and going to"Town Talk" after high school school classes. Susie was a good friend during the ERHS years.
Susie was one of my bridesmaids when I was married after college in June of 1968. We then kept in touch at Christmas time through cards and pictures about the births of our children and the childrearing years. She lived in Beardstown, IL and I lived in Seattle. We both worked for the Public School Systems and spoke of things we did. Susie was a speech therapist for the Beardstown Public School District for 30 years.
I received a call from Susie in June of 2004 that she and her husband, Dave, were coming to the west coast on a road trip. She was interested in the geneology of her family and was coming out here to see them and wanted to see us also. My husband, Bob, and I met them in Seattle. The next day they came up here to the island and spent the night as we had just moved here. It was the fourth of July holiday. It was great seeing her and Dave and of course we reminisced about the good ole times and what we were doing in our lives now. Susie was very active in her community, in the library and in particular the historical society.
As they were leaving she remarked, "I sure hope it is not another 36 years until we see each other again," I replied, I sure hope it is not either... but if it is...we will both definitly be in another place and time.
Until we meet again ~Dear Friend ~
With Love,
Nancy Flick Uhlmansiek