Susie MARRONEY

1922 - 2012

MARRONEY

Susie, beloved mother of Susie Dudley and her husband Salvatore Conti, loving grandmother to Catherine McDonough and her husband David McDonough and great-grandmother to Malcolm McDonough, died peacefully on Sunday, May 27 in Austin, where she had been living for the last two months of her life. A resident of Tucson for the past 34 years, she was the widow of Peter R. Marroney, Chair of the Drama Department of the University of Arizona for 50 years. She was 89. Susie first came to Tucson in the mid-1940s, where she was the owner of Desert Treasures, a purveyor of gourmet gifts and foods. She also had a radio interview show, where she interviewed Hollywood stars making movies in the old Tucson of the 1940s. Unofficially, she was the social director of the famed Arizona Inn of that era, lighting up every room and party with her broad smile, quick wit and infectious charm. Famous among friends for her sparkling personality and love of life, Susie was an amateur thespian, a revered raconteur and the life of every party (and there were many) she attended. Her sense of humor never failed. Born in Cincinnati on July 18, 1922 she was the daughter of Emily Powell Deupree and the step-daughter of Richard R. Deupree, former Chairman of the Board of Procter and Gamble. She had two siblings, Douglas Allen and Emily Allen Laffoon, who died in 1965 and 2007, respectively. In addition to her daughter, Susan Sanford Dudley, her grand-daughter, Catherine Dudley McDonough and her great-grandson, Malcolm Oliver McDonough, she is survived by three nephews: Polk and Peter Laffoon, of Cincinnati, and Nathan Powell Laffoon, of Harbor Springs, MI; also by three grand-nephews, Coleman Laffoon, Brent Woodall Laffoon, and Nathan Powell Laffoon, Jr., all of Los Angeles; and by two grand-nieces, Samantha Laffoon Rushing, of Houston, and Catie Laffoon, of Los Angeles. For the past two months, Susie lived peacefully at Querencia at Barton Creek, in Austin, close to her family. The family thanks the staff and residents of Querencia, who were so kind to her in these last weeks. Prior to that, Susie lived in Tucson, in a house looking to the Catalina Mountains, where she received wonderful care and friendship from Anna Barragan all her years there. The family thanks Anna for everything. The family requests that donations be made to the Peter Marroney Scholarship Fund at the University of Arizona College of Fine Arts or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78705 - (512) 452-8811