Susan Caron

Susan Simons Caron, 84, of Garnett, KS, passed away on Easter Sunday afternoon, April 17, 2022, when her caring heart gave out after a lifetime of sharing it with all who passed through her charming home or spent time with her. Susan is survived by her brother, Charles W. (Patti) Simons and sister-in-law, Helen Caron Shields; her children Steve (Ginger) Caron, Beth (Rob) Marczynski, Doug (Patti) Caron and Charley Caron; her grandchildren, Haley (Robby) Ramirez, Greer (Mike) Dzura, Will (Ashlee) Caron, Blake Caron, Saundra (Chris) Caron-Small, Asil Ingram, Sarah (Michael) Marczynski-Frixen, Kate (Craig) Gentry, Charlie (Avery, fiancée) Marczynski and 5 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Bob Caron; sister-in-law, Mary Harris; sister, Carol Currens and her precious great grandchild, Kendall Ramirez.

Susan was the middle child, born to parents Charles Edwin Simons and Mary Amanda Yeazell Simons, on April 28, 1937, in Austin, Texas. After an academically average, but socially stellar high school career, Susan graduated from North Dallas High School in 1955 and attended the University of Oklahoma, pledging Chi Omega fraternity - Epsilon Alpha Chapter. Susan was able to fulfill a lifelong goal in 1977 by completing her bachelor's degree in History from Drake University. While attending the University of Oklahoma, she met fellow "Sooner", Bob Caron. They were married on April 19, 1958, in Dallas, Texas and together raised 4 children. Susan was also "mom" to Joan Fatchett, and later in life, the Harris and Currens cousins and countless dogs and cats. In 1995, they settled in Garnett, the childhood home of Bob's mother Benita Acuff Caron whose father Benjamin F. Acuff had once been the town's mayor. Susan quickly began supporting her adopted hometown with involvement in the Prairie Spirit Rail Trail, Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Committee, AAUW and BPW, among many other organizations and committees. A lifelong republican, she and Bob served as delegates from Anderson County at the State Convention in 2000. She loved volunteering at Anderson County Hospital, the Historical Society, Cornstock, and the County Fair. In the summer of 2004, Susan won a Grand Champion Blue Ribbon when she and her grandson, Charlie Marczynski, entered their Caramel Taffy Apple Pie in the county fair's Pie Baking Contest. Susan was an enthusiastic ambassador for Garnett and was honored when she and Bob were named Grand Marshall at the Annual Christmas Parade.

Known for her quick wit and sense of humor, Susan had a talent for putting people and pets at ease; strangers became friends and strays became family. She always believed her most important civic contribution was coordinating Anderson County's animal rescue efforts, founding a network called "Friends of Cats and Dogs" and was affectionately nicknamed Mimi Doolittle because of her uncanny ability to communicate with animals. Her rescue efforts, however, were not just limited to dogs and cats. She was also a rescuer of vulnerable people, forgotten traditions and tarnished objects. Her knack for making everyone and everything that crossed her path shine brightly is a talent that will be missed by all of us.

People often say that their children are their life, but few lived it as completely and with as much joy as Susan. Mimi Susie, as she was known to her grandchildren, spent time teaching them the thrill of finding a rock shaped like a heart and sharing her curiosity about where a Jayhawk was going when they found a tailfeather tucked in the branches of a cedar tree. With a talent for storytelling, Mimi Susie spun tales and sparked the imagination of her grandchildren from hundreds of natural trinkets found near the North Lake and along the Rail Trail. She taught them to make smoked pimento cheese, home-made queso and melt-in-your-mouth-brisket with recipes that featured imprecise measurements of hunks and chunks, bits and bunches and directions to "give it a good squeeze" or "add a glob". Susan relished a strong cup of coffee, a stiff scotch and soda, a good parade float theme, Tex-Mex and margaritas and, of course, the spectacular Kansas sunsets. Mimi Susie turned shopping at a thrift store into a treasure hunt almost always ending with a splurge on soft serve ice cream at Dairy Queen. She marveled at the white-hot embers of a roaring fire inviting her grandchildren and great nieces and nephews to watch it closely because the sparks made it look like it was winking. She also liked to wink. Susan never took herself too seriously, which was her secret weapon. More than once, she disarmed a committee meeting with well-researched facts embedded in a persuasive and humorous story, making life in Garnett better, safer, and often, a lot more fun!

Susan lived out personal axioms centered on being kind. She felt like everyone in a crowded room was a little-bit self-conscious, so she always introduced herself first, paving the way for others to relax. She had a legendary ability to remember names, mostly because she gave everyone a nickname. Susan was also a good secret-keeper and very easy to talk to. Many folks found themselves confiding in her, sharing private tidbits of information that they had never before revealed to anyone. She believed most everything could be fixed with a safety pin or stitch-witchery; and a glue-gun was one of the most amazing tools ever invented. Susan loved to throw parties and host family holidays. She created epic self-serve buffets where guests enjoyed delicious dishes and desserts in a home decorated to rival those pictured in Country Living magazine. Her zest for life, love for family and care of animals are legacies that will proudly be continued by her children, grandchildren, and extended family for generations to come.

The family will receive visitors on Friday May 6, 2022, from 5-7 pm at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 219 S. Oak Street, Garnett, KS. On Saturday May 7, at 11:00 am, there will be a graveside memorial service, officiated by Father Jerry Williams of St. Boniface Catholic Church. Family and friends are invited to gather at Garnett Municipal Cemetery, 27554 NE Neosho Road, Garnett, KS with a reception afterward at The Kirk House.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Prairie Paws Animal rescue https://prairiepaws.org/get-involved/donate .