Susan Reinoehl Garlick Zajic

1933 - 2025

Susan Zajic, 92, passed away on October 8, 2025 in Lady Lake Florida.

Sue was born to Weldon and Elva (Richards) Reinoehl on June 24, 1933, the youngest of 3 siblings. She graduated from Scottville High School in 1951. That first summer before starting college she worked for Briggs Hardware in Scottville as a bookkeeper, the first of many accounting jobs she would hold over the years. Sue took classes at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor before transferring to Michigan State College, and graduating with a B.S. degree in accounting in 1955. Right after college graduation Sue worked for Herkner and Frazier in Benton Harbor. She married Gordon M. Garlick Sr. in 1956 before settling down back home in the Mason County area in 1957.

Sue raised 3 children and worked from home at her own accounting business. She worked for Steingraber Auto Sales as an accountant, working at Reinoehl Sewing Center on the weekends. From 1969 to 1978 Sue worked in the accounting department at Memorial Medical Center in Ludington, then transferring to Oceana Hospital in Hart taking the position of CFO there. During this time, Sue taught accounting and tax classes at West Shore Community College. In 1984 Sue took the CFO position at Herrick Memorial Hospital in Tecumseh, Mi.

In 1991 Sue's mother (Elva) passed away and Sue with her stepfather Anthony Deitz moved to Florida. While in Florida, Sue started working again at yet another healthcare facility.

Sue was married a second time to Leland L. Zajic in 1994. Sue and Lee then started working for a packing and shipping business in the village in central Florida. From 2010 to 2015 Sue volunteered for office help at a healing center in Leesburg Florida, finally retiring for good in 2015.

Sue and Lee, along with dogs Charlie and Rocco, traveled to 49 of the 50 United States and all of the Canadian provinces in their 32 foot motor home.

During her life, Sue earned several achievements including: President of the West Michigan Chapter, Healthcare Financial Management Association, recipient of the Follmer, Reeves and Muncie awards from HFMA. She was also a past member of the Institute of Management Association and past member of the AAUW.

Sue was predeceased by her mother, father, stepfather and husband Lee. She was also predeceased by her brother David Reinoehl, sister June Newkirk, and brothers in law O'Neill J. (Boots) Newkirk, Edward W. (Ted) Garlick, Fred Stolley, Rollin Zajic, Phil Harrison and Robert Lowry, sisters in law Norma Reinoehl, Iola Stolley, Iva Lowry, and Barbara Harrison; her former husband Gordon M. Garlick Sr., a grandson Calvin A. Garlick, two nephews David W. Reinoehl and O'Neill J. Newkirk II and one grand nephew Nicolas Zajic. Surviving her are three children, Gordon M. Garlick Jr., Christopher D. Garlick (Tina), Margaret (Peggy) Jablonski (Scott) and step children Cynthia Zajic, Francilea Federico, and Leann Zajic. Several nieces, nephews, cousins, 12 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and several great great grandchildren. Sue is also survived by her African Violet that always sat in the south window of her kitchen.

There will be no local service, an online memorial page can be accessed on http://obituaries.nationalcremation.com