Sue and I were married on December 23rd, 1969. We were in love, happy as hell and managed to raise a couple of girls. Those were absolutely the happiest years of my life. Rest in peace sweet Sue. May you stay warm and comfortable.

Sue and I were high school classmates. I extend to the family and friends my heartfelt sympathy.

Remembering Sue Cage God is never finished with us until He calls us home. Christmas day 1997, my grandmother Leona Gasche, or Nona as we all called her; as we sat at her kitchen table at breakfast, she prayed: “Dear Lord please send someone kind and loving to help care for me.” I had just let an undesirable woman go and as I listened to this prayer which the words had not lifted above the ceiling, a neon sign (bright pink) flashed in my sight…SUE CAGE. I could not believe this and could not wait to get the dishes cleared and Nona settled in her chair by the window. I immediately phoned my sister, Dee Clay, and asked, “where is Sue Cage and what is she doing?” I then shared my God sent vision with Dee and she replied, “I don’t think she is working and she is currently staying with Sunny.” Dee proceeded to contact Sue the next day and I went and picked her up at this apartment just south of town. I had asked Nona if she thought she could get along with Sue and if it would be alright to talk with her. I then proposed the idea of Sue living with Nona and being her caregiver. Sue remembered Nona as being the disciplined schoolmarm and Nona remember Sue as a mischievous school girl so a first it was kind of a strange idea to the two of them. After getting the two together and laying out expectations they both agreed they would try it out. I must say; this was the beginning of a wonderful and loving relationship. I arranged to take time from work and stay a week with Sue to show and explain Nona’s medical needs. As I recall today it was one of the most delightful weeks of laughter in my life. During this time Sue and I shared the bedroom upstairs where there were twin beds and the time reverted to younger years. It was if we were at summer camp in the cabin at Bates Creek. You see I had the privilege of being DeeDee’s little sister and since Sue was small in stature, often when DeeDee, Ginny and Sue got together I paired up with Sue as she was more the little sister size. Once at the zoo, Dee and Ginny were over 12 and had to pay 25 cents for the carriage rides and Sue realized that the younger sister under 12 got to ride free so immediately being more my size she became my age. We laughed at the “older” girls having to pay while we rode free. We talked of times at the river and how much fun we had at the club house. I think it reminded her of going to Mom and Pop’s. Even though as a child I was younger she treated me as if there was no age difference. I can’t say that for all my older sister’s friends, at least back then. Sue stayed with Nona for over a year, when Nona passed away in March of 1999. We were then lucky enough for Sue to stay and take care of our mother, Bonnie. Mother had Alzheimer’s Disease and I know was more challenging than Nona who could converse of great historical knowledge of our beloved Hillsboro and her people. Sue and I loved the stories Nona would tell us including some shocking facts about people that we revered and respected. Following Nona’s death, Sue stayed with Mom for another 3 years till her death in June of 2002 and gave our family a feeling of confidence and love knowing she was there and that we shared the common background. Sue went on from there and became the caregiver for many other people. So, I just want to end in saying, back in 1997, God had a plan for Sue. Just remember, this stage of Sue’s life began with a prayer from a 93-year-old woman. Like the old hymn goes, “His eye is on the sparrow so I know He watches me.”