Susan Lafon Kersey

Susan Kersey (née Lafon), also known as Susan Mendelsohn, departed this life on the 3rd of January, 2024. She went gracefully, as she lived, the morning of her 75th birthday with her sons at her bedside. Born to cherished parents Dee J (Pete) Lafon and Barbara Jean Malan in Ogden, Utah, Susan is descended from sturdy early American pioneers and was the eldest of ten siblings. Mrs. Kersey leaves behind her mother Barbara, sons Adam E. Mendelsohn and Jon A. Malik. The memory of her adored late son, Peter Daniel Mendelsohn precedes her in passing as does her father Dee J Lafon, her late husbands Peter Ellis Mendelsohn and Fred Lewis Kersey as well as her younger sister Mary Elizabeth Lafon. She is also survived by her former spouse Jonathan A Malik, nephews and nieces, step-children, and multiple step-grandchildren whom she doted on.

Susan often fondly recounted her early days in Ogden as somewhat idyllic. Admired by her classmates, she excelled in school demonstrating self-reliance and intellectual curiosity - qualities that sustained her throughout life. A valued quantity in her tight-knit community, she loved exploring the canyons, attending dance class, being around her father as he worked in his studio, and was always busy assisting with extra-parental domestic duties that came as the eldest of an ever-expanding family. After her father assumed the chairmanship of the art department at East Central University the family moved to Ada, Oklahoma. Dismayed to leave her blossoming life in Ogden behind and not much liking being the "new girl", Susan attended Ada Senior High School where she graduated in 1967 - working at the Sugg clinic as an x-ray technician and as a ballet instructor with Thena McBride's dance studio alongside her studies. Shortly after graduation (and breaking a few hearts along the way), she was accepted into the Fine Art program at the University of Utah but instead opted for adventure, making her way to San Francisco where she met her first husband Peter. Upon relocating with Peter to New York City, Susan attended Fordhman University and Herbert Lehman College whilst employed in multiple roles. A talented artist in her own right, she absorbed Manhattan's vibrant cultural landscape and embraced a life of artistic endeavor. A few years after the birth of their first son Peter in 1971, the family moved to Salt Lake City. They had another son, Adam in 1974 and Susan re-enrolled at the University of Utah graduating with a BA Fine Art cum laude in 1977. To supplement her young family's income while attending University, Susan was employed as a sculptor for the LDS visitor center in Temple Square and worked evenings as a cocktail waitress at the Manhattan Club where Peter was the house pianist. Intrigued after hearing some regulars talking about their work as copywriters, she elected to try her hand at writing and gained employment as a junior copywriter. She went on to produce dozens of articles, reviews, features, and editorials with a focus on the arts for her column at Utah Holiday Magazine among others. Before long, her gifts as both writer and editor were rewarded with a promotion to Managing Editor. Following the crushing death of her husband Peter in 1979, she continued to work and raise her sons as a single parent shuttling the kids between swim team, the ski slopes, and somehow finding time to volunteer in their class rooms. Not long after the birth of third son Jon in 1982 with second husband Jonathan (an ex-pat from London), Susan "and the boys" moved up to an A-frame in the mountains near Park City where she embarked on a new career as Senior Editor for WICAT systems, an excellent post but one that came with a grueling commute and heavy workload that stole her away from the family. She relished being in the mountains and was always excited for cozy Thanksgivings by the fire, white Christmas', and summers camping throughout Southern Utah's national parks or road trips across the country visiting relatives.

In 1987, dissatisfied with the competing demands of career and parenting, Susan moved her family to the UK and made a home in Oxford. Life among the spires suited her well as she strove to merge her career path with parenting. It was also in Oxford that she found a renewed enthusiasm for her LDS heritage. The next decade saw her working as a writer/editor for Learned Information (Europe) Ltd as well as various other companies. She went on to write and self-publish (in partnership with Oxfordshire City Council) The Young Person's Survival Guide which was distributed throughout the county schools district and other outlets as a free resource to teens. As a constant fixture at her church, she happily spent years in various service roles both on Sunday and during the work week. Always seeking to help others, free time was spent volunteering for non-profit organizations including Parentlink and the Family Nurturing Network. Aside from overseeing her children's studies and full calendar of extracurricular activities, Susan had an insatiable appetite for the rich cultural life that Oxford, nearby London, and the Continent provided. Weekends were marked by trips around the English countryside or visits to cultural institutions and it wasn't uncommon to attend evening chorales at one of the Colleges or concerts at the Sheldonian during the week. The times she wasn't being productive was time spent working in the garden or planning the next "little trip", demonstrating a flair for planning adventures on a shoestring budget. Whether it be Christmas in Paris or Hogmanay for the Millenium, Susan was determined for both her and her family to soak up all that was on offer and collected many stamps in her passport(s) along the way.

After meeting third husband Fred in the late 90's, they married and returned to the United States in 2004 where they made a home together in Casa Grande, AZ. A dramatic shift from life in Oxford, It was here that Mrs. Kersey fulfilled two lifetime ambitions: to be a full-time homemaker and a school teacher. Susan and Fred made a beautiful home in Casa Grande where they hosted many happy family gatherings. With a little extra time on her hands, she pursued her passion for genealogy, assembling a well-researched archive aided by solo trips to cemeteries and records offices in Europe. Alongside continued service at her church and various other pursuits (such as Reiki training), Susan began teaching as a substitute for Casa Grande Union High School. Following completion of further training, she was a teacher assistant for the non-traditional program at Coolidge High School from 2011-12 going on to be a full-time teacher on the gifted students program at Legacy Traditional School, Casa Grande during 2012-13 where she was treasured by colleagues and students. After assuming responsibility as Fred's caregiver before losing him to liver failure in 2010, Susan suffered another tragic loss of her eldest son Peter in 2013. The combined effect of both losses was devastating and despite never fully recovering she remained determined to live life to the fullest.

Desiring a change of scene and looking to downsize, Susan moved to the foothills of Ogden in 2016. She delighted in reuniting with the stunning natural beauty of her childhood where families of deer roamed through her backyard and the canyons were nearby. Not long after settling in, she went on a year-long stay in London to be near her youngest son Jon, taking a solo trip to Israel (another lifelong ambition) around the same time. From 2018-2020 she spent her time reconnecting with family in Utah, hosting family gatherings, continuing her genealogy research, and resumed compiling materials for an artist's book about her father. Concerned with health issues in 2021, sons Adam and Jon moved "mom" from Utah to a condo in a retirement community near Adam's home in Phoenix where she was spoiled by her sons and went on frequent mini-adventures. Not long after settling into her new home, Susan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and began attending the Adult Day Club at the Dementia Care and Education Campus in Phoenix, eventually moving into the assisted living wing of the campus where she enjoyed a good quality end-of-life brimming with compassion, joy, and love.

Susan will be remembered as a fiercely independent, principled, and persistent force of nature with a mischievous sense of humor. Always ready with a kind word and offers to help, her bright intellect was sometimes overlooked due to a self-effacing manner. Along with a keen nose for real estate she possessed an excellent, understated style in part defined by an uncanny eye for quality at modest cost, always taking good care of her things so that they would "last a lifetime". Generous to a fault, she was frugal and managed her resources well as evidenced by meticulous record keeping and her pristine credit score. With a disdain for disposable consumerism, Susan consistently elected to spend her time and resources on enriching experiences rather than materialistic pursuits. An unabashed feminist and mental health advocate, she spent a lifetime challenging status quo stigma's associated with addiction and substance abuse which plagued her own immediate family. She was outspoken about her struggles with depression and did the thankless work of raising awareness in both her private and professional life long before it was an accepted position. She was indeed a "lifesaver" to many, frequently dropping everything at a moment's notice to rush to the aid of family or friends in need. Susan cared little about spending time on cosmetic appearance preferring instead a mountainside, or the inside of a good library to the inside of a beauty salon. She wished to be noticed for her achievements and acts of service rather than the elegant good looks she was blessed with but it was impossible not to notice her sparkling eyes, infectious laugh, and gorgeous smile. For this and so much more, she remains a constant source of love, gratitude, and inspiration to her surviving friends and family, in particular her beloved sons.

Friends and family will gather to honor and celebrate Susan's life on the 2nd of March, 2024. The memorial services are scheduled to commence at 9:45 a.m. at The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, Camelview Ward, situated at 3920 NORTH 44TH PLACE, Phoenix, AZ 85018. Following the services, Susan will be laid to rest with Fred at Binghampton Cemetery in Tucson, AZ. Concluding the day's remembrance, family and friends will gather for a life celebration at a private venue in Phoenix, AZ.

Floral tributes or donations to one of the listed charitable organizations are all welcome. Contributions in Susan's memory can be directed to the following:

- PBS foundation: https://foundation.pbs.org/ways-to-give/
- Faces and Voices of Recovery: https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/engage/donate/
- Hospice of the Valley: https://hov.org/donate/]
- Dementia Campus: https://dementiacampus.org/donate/