Suzanne (Hartley) Gage passed away at the Lifecare Hospital of Plano on March 12, 2023, at the age of 69, after prolonged battle with pneumonia.
A visitation with family will be held at Heartland Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 PM, Friday, March 17, 2023.
Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Early Church of Christ Church, 900 Early Blvd, Early, TX 76802.
Suzanne was born on December 13, 1953, to Leon and Lillian (Clink) Hartley of San Saba, TX. She lived her entire childhood in San Saba, graduating from high school in May 1972. She married James William Gage, Jr., also of San Saba, on June 3, 1972, and they subsequently moved to ‘The City’ of Early, TX. Outside of a brief stint for about a year in Clyde, TX, James and Suzanne lived their entire lives in either Early or Brownwood.
Suzy was perfectly content being a ‘stay at home Mom’, but like most in the late 70s, found it necessary to seek employment. She first babysat kids. Once Brittney was old enough to attend grade school, she started working at JC Penney, working her way up to the supervisor of the catalog department (this was Amazon before the internet for all you young people). Brittney practically grew up in that JCP store…she would roam it during hot summer days because she loved spending time alongside her mom. Bryan learned the impressive skills of cleaning toilets and putting phone number stickers on catalogs. Brady was likely off fishing or hunting. She later worked at the 3M Credit Union, and at the front desk for local dermatologist, Dr. Persley. She retired in 2017 to spend more time with her grandkids and hobbies.
Suzanne was an active member of the Early Church of Christ. She volunteered as a teacher at the church’s Tuesday School and Meals on Wheels on Thursdays. Suzanne excelled most, though, at being Mom. And, Chaparral Drive in Early was home. The family rarely ate out, so dinner time at home was always family time. The kids would take turns each night setting the table while Mom prepared the meal. It was around the table that we learned important life lessons like ‘keep your elbows off the table’ and ‘never salt your food before you tasted it’. Some Friday nights were extra special. Dad would fry fish from a recent catfishing trip with the boys, and the kids were allowed to eat in the living room while watching ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’. The boys would soon be left to do the dishes while Mom got to watch ‘Dallas’.
Some of the family’s favorite memories were their annual summer trips to Arlington, where the Gages (and oftentimes, the Gleatons too) would go to Six Flags, Wet n’ Wild and a Texas Rangers game (preferably when Jerry Don Gleaton was passing through Texas with the Kansas City Royals – he always got us great seats). We would eat too many “pink things” at Six Flags, and we’d spend all day at the park – riding all the rides, especially the Judge Roy Scream as many times as possible. Her favorite ride was the Cliffhanger, which scared the rest of us; and her family talked her into riding the Flashback the year it opened, which turned out to be her least favorite ride and made her sick the rest of the day.
The family also loved the many trips to San Saba to visit relatives, especially the Whitleys. Many weekends were spent at Mammaw and Pappaw Hartley’s home on Dry Street, so the cousins could play together all weekend. The kids would climb Aunt Lillian’s Magnolia tree, fight over who would ride the one ‘Big Wheel’ tricycle, and have pecan wars until Bryan would inevitably hit cousin Kyle or Brady in the face.
Above all, Suzanne was such a giving person. She was always there for her kids, husband, and grandkids – giving them more than the family could likely afford. Suzy also never missed one of her kid’s sporting events – she traveled all over to see her three kiddos play basketball, baseball, football, golf, and cross-country. She devoted her life to making them feel loved and cared for – Suzy and James always gave them the support they needed to be successful in school, college, and life. And in retirement, she continued to be there for her kids, visiting DFW often to help with the grandkids and watch them grow.
With her giving spirit, there is no wonder Suzy’s favorite holiday was Christmas! She loved spoiling her family (especially her kids and grandkids) with gifts and homemade sweets she’d spend days preparing. And, you will never have met anyone that had more Christmas decorations than Suzy – she could have filled 5 houses with them. Because she made each Christmas so special, the Gage family loves celebrating Christmas together and will continue to do so.
Suzanne is survived by her husband of 51 years, James Gage; sister, Michelle Whitley and husband Farrell; sons, Bryan Gage, Brady Gage and wife Amy; daughter, Brittney Adkins and husband Steve; grandsons, Zach Gage, Leland Adkins and Lucas Gage; granddaughter, Hailey Gage; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Leon (Ponce) and Lillian Hartley, and her brother, Greg Hartley.
1 Corinthians 2:9, ‘However, as it is written, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”.