Susan H. Kirkpatrick, age 81 of Ellijay, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday evening 31 ^ST of August 2022 at Jasper Piedmont hospital.

Susan was born on April 27, 1941 in Harrisburg, IL, to James L and Catherine Halcom. She was originally from southern Illinois where she met her husband of 62 years, Michael L. Kirkpatrick, Sr. After many moves they settled in Georgia in 1980 and moved to Ellijay full-time in 1994 after having been part timers in the mountains since 1983.

She attended Southern IL and Murray State Universities. She was a full time army wife and mother early in their marriage. After both their children were born deaf, she became dedicated to bettering the lives of their children, becoming a teacher of the Deaf and a strong advocate for better laws to assist in their and other deaf children's education. She served on numerous education and state boards being instrumental in lobbying for changes to Deaf Education laws in Minnesota. Susan was active in their real estate and management company and directed several "green" projects before the time of green development, these included some in Gilmer County, which area became very special to her and her family. She was active in the purchase of the Good Samaritan church facilities and active in the church for over 30 years. She was a Master Gardener and loved her time in her garden and the outdoors. One of her joys was cooking gourmet meals that to her were relaxing and fun and which she excelled.

Susan never met a stranger, she was warm, loving, caring and above all a true friend and a person whom you could always count on. As her daughter quoted; "her mother has always been the rock of her life." She was a fighter, both for herself, her family, as well as for her friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and an older sister, JoAnn Stout, all of Illinois. Susan is survived by her husband of 62 years, Michael Sr., son Michael, Jr. and wife Elizabeth Kirkpatrick and their two daughter's Callie and Lauren of Sterling, MA, daughter Kimberly of Georgia and her two four-legged Australian Shepard children Panda and Priss. She will be missed by all.

A funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 on Friday, September 9 ^th at Good Samaritan Catholic Church in Ellijay with visitation starting at 11:30 in the Good Samaritan Catholic Social Hall adjacent to the church. American Sign Language Interpreter will be provided. Father Randy Maddox and Father Bradley Starr will co-celebrate the mass. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in memory of St. Vincent de Paul at Good Samaritan or Five Freedoms Farm www.fivefreedomsfarm.org.