Obituary: Susan Lavender

Susan Lavender (August 16, 1943-June 12, 2022)

Susan Lavender passed away peacefully at home with her husband by her side on Sunday, June 12, 2022. She was 78.

Susan was born August 16, 1943, in Ann Arbor Michigan to John J. and Elizabeth H. Kagay. She grew up in Ann Arbor, was an accomplished horsewoman, and met the love of her life Thomas at Pioneer High School. She graduated from Northwood University and began work at the University of Michigan. Susan and Thomas were married in 1964 and had three children, Wendy, Paula, and Mark. In 1973 Susan and Thomas built their dream home and established Hill Water farm in Sharon Township, MI. Over the years they had huge vegetable gardens and raised geese, chickens, turkeys, sheep, horses, steers, and goats. Susan was a talented seamstress and made matching dresses for her girls when they were little and intricate Halloween costumes for her granddaughter Hanna. She loved living in the country and being a stay-at-home mom and grandma, her Morgan horse Dandy, and many beloved dogs and cats. Susan went back to work as her children grew and worked for Great Lakes Bancorp, first in Manchester and then in Ann Arbor, retiring in 2003. Susan was able to enjoy many beautiful places including Hawaii, hiking the Grand Canyon, Saint Thomas, California, cruising Alaska, and many family vacations in the Carolinas. In 2017 Susan and Thomas moved to Balsam in the mountains of North Carolina. They moved to Durham NC in 2019, and to Cary NC in 2022.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother John H. Kagay. She is survived by her beloved husband Thomas P. Lavender of Cary NC, daughters Wendy Lavender of Raleigh NC and Paula Lavender of Durham NC, son Mark Lavender of Adrian MI, granddaughter Hanna Lavender of Chelsea MI, nieces Anne (Eugene) Lidster, Lori Kagay, and Patty (Pat) Reiter, goddaughters Heather Walker and Laura O’Brien, and her adored Peekinese Charlie. Our wife and mother will be remembered for her sense of humor and compassion for animals. We miss her very much.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Gentle Giants draft horse rescue (gentlegiantsdrafthorserescue.org) or other animal shelters or rescue organizations.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.