Susan K. Caldwell

Susan Kay (Neuman) Caldwell—a woman of zany humor, selflessness, and courage—passed away on Monday, January 29, 2018, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Merriam, Kansas.

She was just 49.

Throughout her entire life, Susan was known for her huge heart. Piece by piece, she gave it away, forgetting to keep enough for herself. This ultimately resulted in the need for open heart surgery that led to her untimely exit from this world.

Susan’s presence had a mystical quality. Her warm, accepting, and non-judgmental personality made everyone feel welcome and eager to confide in her. Many, like her daughter, Rachel and grandson, Payton, blossomed in special ways under her perpetual devotion. Able to move friends to tears with her generosity, she always knew when a helping hand was needed.

The youngest of four children, Susan was born May 6, 1968 in Pontiac, Illinois to Leroy A. Neuman, a General Motors official, and Coyla C. (Luckey), who cared for the disabled.

She graduated from Reed-Custer High School, in Braidwood, Illinois, where her love of talking earned her the nickname “Lips.” She also developed what became a genuine talent for self-expression and writing.

Soon after graduating, in 1986, she yearned to spread her wings and moved to Georgia, where she met and married Roy J. Caldwell. In 1989, bore their only child, Rachel.

The marriage didn’t last, and Susan returned to Illinois with her six-month-old baby. Determined to care for her child and have a career, she obtained her Associate’s Degree in Telecommunications at Parkland College in Champaign, IL.

The single-mom and her daughter then relocated to Manhattan, Kansas to start a new life. Susan got a job at Caterpillar Work Tools in Wamego, where she trained the entire staff in computers and telecommunications. She adored her work and the flexible hours that allowed her to be home with her daughter after school. Their big yellow Labrador, Victor, completed the family. They remained in Wamego until Rachel finished her freshman year of high school.

In 2005, Rachel’s father unexpectedly reappeared, and the couple rekindled their relationship, remarried, and moved to Indiana. Although Rachel later returned to Kansas for her senior year of high school, the Caldwell’s transplanted yet again, this time to Mississippi.

Susan was always a joy to be around. People gravitated to her madcap personality and sparkling humor. An insatiable movie buff, she specialized in trivia, especially when it came to celebrities. Her go-to singer was John Mellencamp. She was an ardent fan, a genuine Mellenhead, as the singer’s devotees are called. She knew the lyrics to all his songs and attended his concerts any time she able to.

Able to fill a room with laughter, Susan showered family and friends with attention. She seemed to divine the needs of others, knew the perfect complement to bestow, the ideal advice to give, the perfect words to elevate another’s spirit. Birthdays were a favorite, and she could be counted upon to bake a splendid birthday cake.

Her love of sunflowers seemed a reflection of her sunny personality. She enjoyed photography, the color purple, and writing. Friends marveled at her emails and letters. She always had a special way with words.

But Susan’s pride and joy, other than Rachel, was her grandson, Payton, born in 2009. The two of them loved to cuddle up together and watch cartoons until Payton could no longer keep his eyes open. They shared a deep and abiding bond, a special way of communicating—a language of silliness only they understood. They cracked each other up. Payton could talk his grandmother into anything; staying up late to watch Little Bear, buying an extra scoop of vanilla ice cream, or playing 'just one more' round of cards again and again.

Quietly spiritual, Susan was utterly devoted to God. Her faith was infinite without being preachy, and she never, ever passed judgement on anyone. Her acceptance of others was total, her interest in hearing both sides of an argument without condemnation a distinct quality that served her well as a manager and as a human being. Her beliefs revolved around making others happy.

Eventually, her illness got to be too much, and she moved in with her daughter in Overland Park, Kansas, where she spent the last few months of her life. Although fearful of heart surgery, she eventually faced the unknown with a willing spirit.

“She showed us all just how brave and courageous she really was by fighting until the very end.”

Susan will always be remembered for being kind, forgiving, and generous.

Susan was preceded in death by her father, Leroy A. Neuman; and brother, Randy Ashford.

She is survived by her daughter, Rachel R. Caldwell; grandson, Payton S. Sibert; mother, Coyla C. Neuman; sisters, Cynthia K. Singleton and Linda S. Harper; nephews: Jason Crain, Joshua Crain, John Crain, and Michael Singleton, and nieces, Karen Regnier, Teri Price, and Christina Ashford.