Susan Morris Steen

Susan Morris Steen, 79, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on Sunday June 30th, 2024, at IU North Hospital, Carmel, IN, surrounded by her loving family. 

Born on May 24, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio to Barbara and Alban Frederick Morris, Jr., Sue was raised in Alliance Ohio, where she developed a deep love for family traditions including big family dinners, celebrations, and fun-spirited pranks. One of her simplest yet most cherished family traditions was gathering for dinners throughout life, where her talents as a fantastic host and cook were on full display. 

Sue attended the all-girls Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where she was known for her outgoing and social nature. She excelled academically and was elected Dormitory President. Sue loved playing field hockey and tennis and had a passion for learning. 

It was at Laurel School where Sue met her sweetheart, “J-Bird '' and future husband, John Steen, on a blind date setup by friends. Five years later, they were married on August 10, 1968, in Alliance, Ohio. This summer, they were due to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary and shared a life full of love, laughs, and adventure. 

After high school, Sue attended Colby Jr. College where she learned to love skiing and later transferred to Cornell University where she pursued her studies in nursing. She earned her B.S. in nursing and embarked on a career as a dedicated home-visiting travel nurse in New York City, Long Island, and Maryland. Early in this period, Sue visited many homes in Brooklyn to help all-walks of life from mobsters on house-arrest to the elderly and newly born. 

In addition to her professional achievements, Sue was known for her unwavering kindness, grace, and warmth towards her family, friends, and all whom she encountered. She and John left the New York City area and raised their family in Fulton, Maryland, and later in Glens Falls, NY, before settling in Zionsville, IN, in 1991.

Sue was strong, smart, and capable, with a deep love for travel and outdoor adventure. Before children in 1975, she & John traveled the Alcan highway to Alaska with Rodger & Leslie Steen, backpacking in multiple places and forging unforgettable memories in the wilderness. While living on Long Island, New York, she boldly flew solo in a single-engine Cessna across the Long Island Sound to earn her pilot’s license. In Upstate New York, Sue enjoyed multi-day backpacking treks, often carrying the weight of her son Jeff in addition to the gear. On one memorable expedition in the Adirondacks, she even bravely persevered through challenging conditions at 8.5 months pregnant and nearly gave birth to her son Eric on Black Mountain.

In 1991, Sue moved with the family to Zionsville, IN and has remained since.

Sue was a pillar of strength and wisdom, always offering ongoing love, guidance and support to her children, Jeffrey and Eric, and grandchildren, Dylan and Mari. Her special place was any family gathering where she loved thinking of the finer details of anything that would make someone else feel special, welcome, warm, and included. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary, or special event that could make someone else’s day better. Sue’s paradise on earth was in a secret spot in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, where her grandparents built a summer cabin in 1933 meant for family and friends to gather. It was there that she spent several weeks every summer since she was born, where she loved to carry on the stories and history of her family's past and in the making.

She enjoyed seeking out new people, hearing their stories; she loved supporting small business owners, and had a knack for listening and empathizing with everyone. Her warmth and thoughtfulness knew no bounds; her memory for details for others’ lives and stories would arise in conversation and a listener would often incorrectly conclude Sue had known the person for years, based on the emotional depth and details she attained in a brief encounter.

Sue was a devoted Christian and active member of Zionsville Presbyterian Church frequently participating in the food ministry. She had a deep passion for volunteerism and generously supported numerous charitable causes, particularly those focused on education and the arts. Susan and John demonstrated their commitment to education by endowing a Chair for Science & Math at Western Reserve Academy, John’s high school.

Sue is survived by husband John Steen, children Jeffrey and Eric (Alana Lerner), grandchildren, Dylan and Marisa, and brother, Jim Morris.

Her memory will forever be cherished by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Salvation Army of Central Indiana.

A celebration of Susan's life will be held on July 27, 2024, from 2-4PM at Zionsville Presbyterian Church. Friends and family are invited to join in honoring her memory.