Susan Marlene Jost

From Amy and Jen, her daughters -

Our mom Susie was such a faceted, strong-willed, gregarious, passionate woman. She was a pianist, a creative, a business owner, a helper, a dreamer, a mother, and daughter. She was in awe of her father Warren, her mother Ruth was her best friend for most of her adult life, and her sister Joni was someone she admired for her devil-may-care confidence and biting wit. She believed so strongly in others in her best times. And was so giving of her time and care when she could. She wanted to make her parents proud, and she wanted us to be everything she dreamed we could be.

She gave so much of herself in her life. And she had such great expectations for her life too. Growing up we just remember she always had big plans. She had setbacks but then she would muster up a new dream and give it her all. She was capable of such optimism. And she was stubborn and relentless in seeking what she wanted.

She was such a hard worker. She inherited that from her parents. When she wanted to do something, she would do everything in her power to make it happen. With her business, with her life, with her family. Through her 40s she was always on the go. So much energy. We don’t remember her ever just sitting around and watching TV. She loved working outside, cleaning out the barn, playing her piano, planning jobs and expanding on her door and hardware business. She would “relax” in the tub for 5 minutes then be up and around again, unable to stay still for long. She had so many things she wanted to do and achieve. She had such strong convictions on what should be and what could be.

She inherited an entrepreneurial spirit from her mother and father. She was so proud of them. How they bought the Plano Store and worked and saved and bought property, built apartments, built their dream home. In so many ways she tried to follow in their footsteps. Ruth and her were so close when she moved back home to Kentucky. They would go to church together, hunt the deals at the second-hand store together, go to Denny’s together, gossip and joke and laugh together. She loved how witty Ruth and Joni could be.

She took so much care then. She loved to have her nails done with Grandma. She was her mother’s daughter in that way. Ruth, Susie and Joni “would not leave the house without their face on” they would say (speaking of their makeup routine). She had her beauty routine dialed. The curlers. Flip the hair – copious hair spray – tease – and voila. The most beautiful weather-woman hair you’d ever seen. She knew how to dress to the nines and dressed for the role she wanted. She and Grandma taught us how to carry ourselves with confidence and intention.

Her care was beyond the surface. Like Grandma, she loved to bring food and chocolates to older people or those who were sick. She cared about people. And she instilled in us very early on to never let anyone feel left out. She would find the person in the room with no one to talk to and would become their friend. When we had our birthday parties, she couldn’t abide the idea of anyone being left out, she would have us invite our whole classes. It was her idea that we invite our whole 7th grade class to a Halloween barn party. That party was legend among our friends! She just wanted everyone to be happy and having fun.

She had a bleeding heart. She was sensitive. She carried the cares and worries of others, as well as her own. She felt things so deeply. She had high highs and low lows.

She was so creative. She had the most beautiful penmanship. She quilted when she was in New York and California. She used to draw with us as kids, and encourage us to paint murals on our bedroom walls and make homemade greeting cards and children’s book stories. She believed we could do anything, and encouraged us to do so. We still carry that sense of possibility with us, which she held and instilled in us.

She had amazing taste. In clothes, in decor, in movies. And definitely in music. She used to love to listen to Morning Becomes Eclectic on NPR and discover new artists. She introduced us to Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Allison Krauss, Glenn Campbell, Johnny Cash, KD Lang, Diana Krall. Not to mention the musicals. She loved the Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Les Mis. She dragged our carpenter dad to a performance of Phantom in OC back in the 80s and he was made into a convert. She could do that. She was determined to win people over to the things she loved.

Some of our most fond memories are of her picking us up from school on a Monday to drive 1.5 hours to Owensboro for youth orchestra. We would stop at the gas station to get snacks, then sing along to CDs and talk in the car there. She would wait outside and do her work in the car. Then we’d drive home. She invested so much time into us, and had so much belief in what she wanted us to be. We are so grateful for how much she cared for us and encouraged us. It was not lost on us how much she gave for us. It amazes us even now.

She loved singing in the car and would always beg us to sing harmony with her. We think she had dreams of us being a family band in another life. She would arrange for us to sing and play our instruments at church. She just loved music. She played the piano so beautifully. Her Steinway was her pride and joy, and a token of how far she had come in her business. She could play flawlessly. The song we begged her to play most was “Jessica’s Theme” from Man From Snowy River, one of her favorite films about love and horses. She made us play fiddle and cello with Uncle Owen and Uncle Carlie at Wednesday Potlucks sometimes. We say “made” because she really would not take “no” for an answer. And we are so thankful for it! We were self-conscious teens who didn’t know up from down. She didn’t let us get in our own way. She placed us in the coolest situations that to this day we are so proud of. It taught us bravery and flexibility.

She loved making days special for those she loved. Mother’s Day brunch at the Plaza for her mom, Ruth. Nutcracker at TPAC in Nashville. A road trip up the California Coast after our graduation. She loved the finer things of life, but had no trouble getting her hands dirty. She could clean out the barn then clean up for a night out.

She really was so fearless. Our Dad tells a story about how she bought a little Honda motorcycle when they were living in California. She accidentally knocked it over in the parking lot and couldn’t even pick it up to get back on. Someone had to help her get it upright. That really sums her up so well. She always believed she could do anything with enough grit and elbow grease. When we remember her, we remember her optimism and her words of encouragement to us as kids and teens growing up. She wanted us to walk in God’s will and plan. She wanted us to be good and true and kind. We love her and will miss her so much.

From her cousin, LeeAnn -

Susan Marlene Jost left this earthly home on November 17th, 2025, to be with her heavenly father.

She was born on March 23rd, 1959 in Torrance, California to Ruth and Warren Jost, whom she was happily reunited with on Sunday.

Susie lived many different places including California, Wisconsin, and New York, but always made her way back to her beloved Kentucky home, Plano.

She was very talented and creative. She loved her family and friends with all her heart, and was always ready and willing to help with anything. She was an accomplished pianist, playing at Plano Baptist Church for many years. She enjoyed “picking and grinning” with her Wednesday night church family. She was a fashion diva, always looking her best wherever she went.

Susie was a film buff. She loved all things Hollywood. She could tell every detail of a movie she had watched, and would critique it with expertise. Her favorite quote was from Gone with the Wind. She was always saying, “After all, tomorrow is another day.”

Susie was a storyteller. She loved sharing stories of her life, her Jost and Sims family history, her excursions, and all of her life's “journeys.” She definitely had the gift of gab! She will be sorely missed by her friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Ruth and Warren Jost. She leaves behind two daughters, Jennifer and Amy, a sister, Joni, a nephew, Austin, a heap of cousins, and her beloved cat, “Poodie.”

A graveside service will be held on Friday Nov. 21, 2025, 3pm, at Plano Baptist Church cemetery at 600 Plano-Richpond Road, Bowling Green, KY. 

All friends and family are encouraged to attend to say our last goodbyes to Susie.