Submitted & © by Kay Marshall

Obit posted by Janet Laubhan Flickinger

http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/

Suzanne passed away Friday July 1, 2011 after a long and valiant battle with cancer.

Suz was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 13, 1946. Her father, William Joel Dessauer, Sr. was a CPA and her mother, Bonnie L. Dessauer, was a Ph.D. psychologist. Soon after Suz's birth, the family moved to Oklahoma City where a few years later she would be blessed with a little brother, Bill, Jr.

Suzanne's ability to excel in “everything she put her mind to" revealed itself at an early age when in the 7th and 8th grades she won the city wide essay contest entitled "I went to the fair and this is what I saw". Each year her school received a full set of World Book Encyclopedia's for her efforts. While attending Classen High school in Oklahoma City, she was a cheerleader, excelled academically earning straight "A's", and was valedictorian of her 1964 senior class. She was active in student politics and many other clubs and organizations.
Obtaining a degree in "Special Education" while attending the University of Oklahoma highlighted her love of children and obvious gift of compassion for those less fortunate. Again, being heavily involved in school activities was a priority. She was in the Presidents Leadership Class, Mortar Board, Student Senate, and many other organizations at the University while obtaining her degree.

In 1966 she met her husband, Glenn, over the Thanksgiving Holiday while both were head counselors at the Towers Dormitories. They were married December 21, 1967 and immediately moved to Kansas City, Kansas where she obtained her first Special Education teaching position in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Suz and Glenn both thought her $5,400.00 per year salary was something to be very proud of!  After four years in Kansas City, the two moved to Miami, Florida where she again taught Special Education in the Dade County School System. Suzanne's work there was truly remarkable, developing a significant reputation for helping the many underprivileged and less fortunate children she was blessed to teach and bond with. Her loving, effervescent, cheery, and compassionate personality was truly valued by all who she came in to contact with. While in Miami she was blessed with the birth of her daughter, Kimberly Diane.

In 1974 Suzanne moved to Bossier City, Louisiana where she and her husband served their country for two years at Barksdale Air Force Base. In 1976 the two moved to Norman, Oklahoma and began "putting down their roots" where they developed many, many lifelong friends. Soon after arriving in Norman she was again blessed with her second child, Richard Glenn. Suz was a "stay at home" mom until her children started school when she again practiced her love of teaching for many years.

Over the last approximate 20 years she has been a Realtor using her vivacious, stimulating personality and drive to help enumerable people buy or sell their homes and move to the next phase of their lives. Whether buying or selling, Suz was truly joyous when she was able to assist in finding the "perfect" home for her treasured clients. Finding that "perfect home for a buyer" or that "perfect buyer for a home" was a calling that Suzanne took seriously and relished on a daily basis. Her energetic approach to life was invigorating to all who were fortunate to work with or around her.

Suzanne's most important relationship was centered squarely on God and His overwhelming goodness.  Over the years, she was actively involved with her church and her Sunday school class.  She was also very actively involved in organizations such as PEO, Assistance League, the Christmas Store, and the May Fair.  She loved playing bridge and majan, with her many friends. She was a huge OU sports fan, attending every home football and basketball game and traveling to away games as often as possible. Suz was a "people person", loving to talk, laugh, shop, play, and work. Her contagious personality seemed to "rub off' on everyone she was around. Her husband often said that every morning "she would wake up talking"! Visiting her favorite Starbucks establishment was a daily ritual.

Suzanne is survived by her husband of 44 years, Dr. Glenn Foster; one daughter, Kim Gaylor and husband Will of Norman; one son, Richard Foster and wife Shanna of Norman; one brother, Bill Dessauer of Las Vegas, NV; and two grandchildren, Dax and Blake Foster. 

She is preceded in death by both parents.

Suzanne loved life, loved her family, and loved her many, many devoted friends. She will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to have known her and love her while she was her with us. 

Visitation will be held 12:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M., Monday, July 4, 2011 and 8:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, July 5, 2011 with the family greeting friends from 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. at Havenbrook Funeral Home. 

Funeral services will be held 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at the First Baptist Church, 211 W. Comanche St., Norman with interment following in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Norman.