June 23, 1959 — Feb. 14, 2015

Susan Lynn (Gorham) Simmons, 55, of Cassopolis, passed away after complications of pneumonia at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Saturday, February 14, 2015 with her family by her side.

Susan married her best friend, Wendell, on July 28, 1979 in Cassopolis, Michigan. After starting a family Susan went back to college and graduated with a degree in the medical field. She was employed at Three Rivers Area Hospital as a transcriptionist for the last seventeen years. Susan’s career gave her the opportunity to work from home and spend time with her children as they grew.

Family was the center of Susan’s life. She loved spending time with her two children and two grandchildren. Visiting her son and his family in Colorado was an experience she cherished and always wished she could do more often. She also loved visiting her daughter and her family in Mishawaka, a trip she made regularly. While she would visit she would often reminisce about seeing her daughter’s dance performances as she grew, which were a great source of pride for her. Susan spoiled her grandchildren with gifts of love and affection, and spent as much time as she could with them. Susan’s motherly love also extended to the friends of her children, who all thought of her as a second mom.

Susan loved camping with her family and friends, particularly the yearly trip to Silver Lake Sand Dunes on Labor Day weekend. Many of her favorite memories were made around the campfire or at the dunes. Some of Susan’s other favorite things were laughing with friends, soaking up the sunshine by the pool, vacationing with family, tailgating at the Notre Dame football games, adventure sleeping, reading, stained glass art, and drawing.

Left to cherish her memory is her mother, Carolyn Gorham; mother in law, Ann Simmons; husband, Wendell Simmons; son, Seth Simmons; daughter in law, Natosha; granddaughter, Cadence; daughter, Kara (Simmons) Lewis; son in law, Dan; grandson, Arlo; sister, Cindy (Gorham) Peters; brother in law, Scott Peters; niece and family, Monica (Peters) Kennedy, John, Isabel, and JR; nephew and family, Greg and Annette Peters; brother in law Doug Simmons; sister in law, Leigh Ann; nephew and family, Brian Simmons, Jessie, Cameron, and Evelyn; nephew Tyler; and the rest of her extended, loving family. She was blessed with a close group of friends who will also share in the memories of this incredible woman. She was met with open arms by her late father, Richard Gorham.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Susan’s life on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at 2 p.m. at the Marcellus VFW, 53550 M-40, Marcellus, Michigan 49067. The family would love to see any photos and hear the memories that you have. Please come share food and a drink with us as we remember our Brown Eyed Girl.

The family prefers donations in Susan’s name be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, 222 North Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 100, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.