Susan Reed Crouse

Susan Reed Crouse, age 63 of Stillwater, MN

Sue was born in Livonia, MI on May 22, 1960 and passed away at home on Oct. 4, 2023 of rectal cancer. Preceded in death by daughter Laura McDonald, parents David and Alfreda Reed, survived by husband Alan (Al), daughter Jacquelyn (Jackie) McDonald (Seattle, WA), niece/sister, Joan Fay (Port Angeles, WA), sister Mary Ellen Reed (Sequim, WA), brothers Tom (Judy McCorkle) (Maui, HI) and Bob (Vicky) (Largo, FL), mother-in-law, Ann Crouse (Johnston, IA), brothers-in-law Dan (Kristy) (Seattle, WA) and Scott (Ann) (Johnston, IA) and sister-in-law Kathy Ditsworth (Steve) (Burt, IA) and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Sue grew up in the Detroit, MI area and moved to Tempe after high school to attend ASU where she got a BS in Meteorology. She married Jack McDonald in 1982 and she had Jackie in 1986. They moved to Colorado Springs where she had Laura in 1988 and later back to Tempe. She and Jack divorced in 1991. She married Al in 1992 and they moved to Cave Creek, AZ. While there Sue was a reporter and columnist for the Sonoran News where she wrote a well-loved weekly humor column called "Curiously". She was also a board member of Sonora North Responsible Development Advocates and a Deacon at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. The family moved to Stillwater in 2003. Sue was an accomplished poet who recently published "One Black Shoe" about the loss of Laura. Her gardens are a thing to behold and were featured in St. Croix Valley magazine. Her quilts and garden produce have won blue ribbons at the Washington County Fair. She loved to travel, hike, kayak, bike and do just about anything outdoors. She loved weather, food, reading and music and had a wide range of tastes for all (except for heat and drought). But one of her favorite things in the world was her pugs! She loved spending time with them and having them follow her around the yard as she did her gardening. Memorial service will be at 3 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 with visitation from 3:30 - 5 pm at Simonet Funeral Home, Stillwater, MN. Interment will be at a later date at Fairview Cemetery. Sue loved flowers but memorials can go to Belwin Conservancy .