Susan Bradshaw Perez died in the early hours of November 2, 2017 at Cox Health Hospital, after courageously coping for ten years with symptoms related to interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.
Susie was born in Springfield, MO on September 6, 1946 to Noah Ward and Katherine Donohue Ward. She grew up in Springfield and graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1964, after which she worked at Commerce Bank for several years. Later she was a District Representative to US Congressman Gene Taylor.
Susie was married to Robert McKnight and after her divorce subsequently she married State Senator Paul Bradshaw, who died in March 1986. On January 2, 1988 Susie married Carlos A Perez, MD and moved to St. Louis, where they lived until 2001, when Carlos retired from Washington University School of Medicine and they moved back to Springfield, where they have lived for the past 16 years.
Susie has been a remarkable woman, with great warmth and charm and the highest sense of values. In her youth she devoted a lot of her time and talent to fundraising and commitment to Community activities, including her work at the Developmental Center of the Ozarks and as Past President of the Cox Hospital Auxiliary. She loved to travel and visited many countries in Latin America, Europe and Asia, where she had many heartwarming relationships.
Susie has been admired and loved very much by all those that have come in contact with her in many capacities. She has been a most sensitive and loving daughter, sister, wife and aunt. She had a special relationship with all her extended family and many friends. It is impossible to describe how much we will miss her, her warmth and sharp wit. She will always live in our hearts and our minds.
She was preceded in death by her Father, Noah Ward, her Mother Katherine Donohue Ward. She is survived by her three sisters, Jan Wiggins, Patricia Blair, Libby Ward, her nieces, Liz Watts, Tricia Zinecker, Anissa Barber and Marcea Ehrler, her nephews Sam and Noah Blair and Christopher Deck, great nieces Kathryn Deck, Avery Blair, Elly and Molly Zinecker, Elani Barber, Idella Ehrler, great nephews Jackson and Charlie Blair, Michael Deck, Oliver Watts, Evin Barber, Ian Zinecker and Chesley Ehrler, stepsons Carlos S, Bernard and Edward P. Perez and her grandchildren Xander, Emerson, Mina and Dacota Lee Perez, Attorney Jean Paul Bradshaw, his wife Diane and their children, Stephanie and Andrew, brothers-in law Dr. Robert Blair and C J Wiggins. and her loving and devoted husband Carlos A. Perez.
There will be a Visitation from 10 to 11 a.m.and a Memorial Service to follow at 11:00 a.m.at Green Lawn North Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 to which all her friends and acquaintances are invited to pay their respects and celebrate the life of our beloved Susie.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Developmental Center of the Ozarks, 1045 E. Pythian, Springfield, Mo 65802, Tel (417) 831-1545