Susan Lawyer Standridge

1958 - 2013

Susan "Susie" Standridge, 54, passed away Saturday, June 29, 2013. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Saturday. July 20, at River Oaks United Methodist Church. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Donations will also be accepted for Sarah and Brian's college fund. Susie was born on Sept. 26, 1958, in Sherman, while her father, Jay Lawyer, was stationed at Perrin AFB. As part of an Air Force family, she experienced living in Colorado, Maine and Michigan before her family finally settled in River Oaks. She attended Castleberry ISD schools and as a proud member of the Castleberry band program, became an award winning clarinetist, bass guitarist and head drum major. She won outstanding jazz bass awards at numerous high school jazz festivals, was selected for the honor band at the Tri-State Music Festival for three years as a first clarinet, was selected for three years as a member of the TMEA All Region Band and she also won outstanding Drum Major awards at the East Texas State University Drum Major Camp. She was also active in the National Honor Society and in Girl Scouts of America, earning one of its highest honors, the God and Country Award. Susie joined the Fort Worth Musicians Union on the recommendation of her band director, Phil Aikman, while still only 14 years old. Her first union job was playing bass in the Red Woodward band, backing up the legendary vaudeville entertainer, Rusty Warren. The union president, Ken Foeller, was so worried about the raunchy content of Rusty's show, that he came along to make sure that sweet little Susie wasn't exposed to any adult humor. While still in high school, she also performed with Jim Wood's dance band as well as the Fort Worth Rehearsal Band where most of the musicians were 10 to 20 years her senior. Susie attended TCU from 1976 to 1980, playing electric bass with both the marching band and the top jazz ensemble. She also performed with TCU's symphonic band and orchestra on her major instrument, the clarinet. As a member of the TCU Horned Frog Jazz Ensemble, she performed on numerous albums, also performing for appreciative audiences in Poland and parts of Russia while it was still the USSR. The group also earned awards at many collegiate jazz festivals during her tenure. Susie was also an active member of the Tau Beta Sigma service organization after she pledged in 1977. During one of her summers, Susie was hired as a counselor and as a member of the dinnertime jazz trio for the prestigious all girls camp, Camp Waldemar. There she was able to put to use all of her trained skills and talents. After TCU, she played professionally with many different musical venues. As a member of the Joe Alan Trio, Susie performed on the Century II Club circuit, backing up well known stars like Ruta Lee, Phyllis Diller, Betty Buckley and Kelly Garrett. As a widely respected union musician, she performed with both the Moslah and Hella Shrine Circus bands, the Six Flags Southern Palace Orchestra, Harvey Anderson's Orchestra, Charlie Patteson's Orchestra, the Ron Fink Orchestra and the Stock Show Rodeo Band and Miss Texas Pageant Orchestra, both under the baton of Lew Gillis. Susan also taught bass students on a limited basis, some of them now performing professionally in the metroplex. Since the late 1980s, Susan was involved with the Jazz Society and Marjorie Crenshaw's efforts to promote programs featuring Women in Jazz. Susan enjoyed the musical friendships that grew out of those concerts. Susan met her future husband, Brian, while they were both still in high school. A few years later, while playing together on various gigs and in rehearsal jazz bands, they struck up a wonderful friendship and later a lasting love affair. They were married on June 17, 1984 and continued to perform together for almost 30 years with their own small groups and jazz orchestra until Susie's condition left her unable to perform anymore. Susan's proudest accomplishment was her role as mother and mentor to the lights of her life, Sarah and Brian Jr. She loved being a mom and encouraged her kids to be active in scouting, just as she once was, teaching them camping skills, cooking, knots and anything else needed to be a good scout. She also made sure that her kids learned how to play a musical instrument and contributed to their own school bands. Susie was so thankful that she still had the time and strength left to see Sarah graduate from high school, it meant the world to her. Susan was a truly beautiful lady. Her great musical talent, her wonderfully soothing voice, her humor and laughter, her guidance and leadership, her unwavering friendship and her undying family devotion will always be remembered by all who knew her, those who had the chance to perform beside her, who heard her play and those who danced to her wonderful bass beat. Susie will be remembered and missed most of all by her dear friends and family who loved her and who were unconditionally loved in return. Survivors: Husband, Brian Standridge; daughter, Sarah Standridge; son, Brian Standridge Jr.; sisters, Jayne Pippenger and Linda Arnett; brothers, Mike Lawyer and wife, Shannon, and Patrick Lawyer and wife, Amy; mother-in-law, Frances Standridge; brothers-in-law, Randy Standridge and wife, Amy, and Brad Standridge and wife, Amy; nephews, Daniel Pippenger, Zachary Lawyer, Erik Standridge, Andrew Standridge and Roman Standridge; and nieces, Jenna Standridge, Ashley Duff and Haley Cook.