Suzanne Garlich

Mrs. Suzanne Todd Slanker Garlich, age 70 years, formerly of Sedalia, Mo., passed away Saturday, June 15, 2013, at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. She went in peace to the Lord after a courageous year long battle with cancer. She was born on July 11, 1942, in Jefferson City, Mo., the daughter of the late George and Maxine (Todd) Slanker. Suzanne was a 1960 graduate of Jefferson City High School, and went on to graduate from Christian College in 1962 and from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1964. She had the wonderful opportunity to study for a summer at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu in 1962. After college, Suzanne moved to Sedalia, Mo. where she worked as a Speech Pathologist for the Children's Therapy Center. In the 1960's - 1970's she would drive her "mobile speech unit" to neighboring rural school districts to provide needed speech therapy services. In 1980, she went to work for the Sedalia School District, retiring on June 30, 2004. She returned to college at Central Missouri State University in the 1980's to earn her school psychometrist certificate and worked under contract for the E.W. Thompson State School for the Developmentally Disabled for many years. She was a past president of the Bothwell Hospital Auxiliary, and an active member of Sorosis. Suzanne belonged to the Golden Girls bridge club for close to 50 years and was also a longtime member of the Sedalia Women's Exchange "lunch bunch". The friendships she made through these groups lasted all of her life and sustained her through many difficult years with her health. Suzanne was an avid reader, a dog lover and a devoted Kansas City Chiefs fan. She was an amazing cook, enjoyed fishing and relaxing at the Lake of the Ozarks, and playing Bridge and Pitch with family and friends. The activity she loved most was spending time with her four beloved granddaughters and watching them grow into beautiful young ladies. Survivors include: her son, Brad (Sella) Garlich of Maryland Heights, Mo.; her daughter, Stacey (Michael) Ismail of Carrollton, Texas; her brother, Todd (Linda) Slanker of California, Mo.; and four grandchildren, Lucy and Marie Garlich of Maryland Heights, Mo., and Audrey and Megan Ismail of Carrollton, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Danny Slanker of Jefferson City, Mo.; and her cherished aunt and uncle, Helen and Joe Frye of Sun City West, Ariz. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 21, 2013, at Broadway Presbyterian Church in Sedalia, with the Rev. Ed Broyles officiating. A graveside service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 22, 2013, at Riverview Cemetery in Jefferson City. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) or the American Cancer Society. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com