Susan Pickering

Susan Marie Livingston Pickering

January 3, 1935 – November 8, 2017

'Strength of will overcomes weakness of body.' – Richard Livingston

Susan Marie Pickering, mother, daughter, sister and friend passed away in Salt Lake City, UT., November 8, 2017. Susan was born to John Livingston and Marie Stovesand Livingston in St. Louis, Missouri. She and her brother, Joseph, grew up surrounded by many loving relatives in Missouri.

When Colonel Livingston's Army career expanded, the family moved to Ft. Belvoir, VA. At one point, her Father was the senior ranked officer at Normandy, during the WWII landings. Susan's independent personality was forged early from a combination of Missourians' "Show Me" attitude, and her Father's Army ethic to "Never Give Up"-traits that would serve her well later in life. Susan loved learning and animals, and was particularly fond of kittens.
When the Colonel took command as the final commander at Ft. Douglas, Susan moved to Salt Lake City, where she resided for over five decades. Susan was always keenly interested in medicine and kept current on latest advances. She graduated with a degree in Audiology. Susan had two children while married to K. Timothy Majors: daughter Leslie Majors Barker and son K. Timothy Majors, Jr. Divorced, she later married Dr. Stephen Pickering and worked tirelessly in his dental office, scheduling, keeping the books, and billing. They later divorced. At 27, Susan suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed on the left side, with two young children to care for.

Tragedy continued in Susan's life when her pilot brother, Joe, was shot down in the Asian Pacific on Veterans' Day, 1966. Later, both Leslie and Tim passed away from separate tragic accidents, as adults.

When her mother, Marie, passed away, Susan moved into the family's home in Olympus Cove, to be with The Colonel. The Cove was frequented by deer, elk, birds and squirrels, perhaps in part due to Susan's generosity in distributing weekly bags of animal feed. After her Father passed, Susan struggled fiercely to care for herself and live independently, 'Never giving up', but her own frailty resulted in too many injurious falls, and she was moved to Spring Creek Healthcare Center, where she lived the past four years.

Deep gratitude to the many loving staff at Spring Creek, who balanced Susan's fierce independence and her physical needs. Special thanks to the Surgical and Critical Care Teams at St. Mark's Hospital, and to the chaplains and her pastor, who supported Susan in her last days.

Susan's friendships with Kelly Fate, Rose Marie Parkinson, Carol Smedley and Doris Smalley spanned decades, and her cousin Richard helped 'lift' her to safety many times. Susan was always a stylish, beautiful woman who enjoyed haircuts at The Atomic Blonde Salon with Doris, and who had no problem being 'stylishly-late'. She was a long-standing member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of 1812, The Huguenot Society, National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and Soroptomists.

Susan is survived by many relatives around the country including cousins Joan, Margaret Ann, Richard, and beloved Aunt Donna.

A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at Susan's beloved Mount Olympus Presbyterian Church, 3280 E. 3900 So., at 1:00 P.M.
A lifelong Presbyterian of Scottish and German descent, Susan would have appreciated any memorial to MOPC.

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