Suzanne Freeman Britton

1952 - 2023

Richland - On July 5, 2023, Suzanne Britton was welcomed into the Lord's hands after an extended battle with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), a rare form of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).

Born on April 14, 1952, to Maurice "Bud" and Marie Freeman, Suzanne and her younger brother Jeff were raised in Mount Vernon, Washington. She graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1970 and went on to attend Skagit Valley College and graduated from Central Washington State University.

Among Suzanne's many attributes that she acquired from her parents were those of the Protestant work ethic and appreciation of family. From an early age, she worked on her hands and knees in the fields surrounding Mt. Vernon, harvesting seasonal crops such as strawberries and flower bulbs. During her college years, she spent several summers in Alaska working long hours in the fish canneries. The Freeman clan had an annual family reunion every summer with 60-100 people attending. Suzanne was a regular attendee and even took on overall organizational responsibility of the 3-day event on occasion.

Suzanne and her husband Chris met on a blind date in 1996 on a Christmas cruise boat touring Lake Washington with mutual friends. From that day forward, for the past 26+ years, they shared their life, love, and family together. Little did she know at the time that she we going to be a loving grandmother and a matriarch of an extended family whom she loved, and they adored.

Suzanne was a very skilled and successful businessperson and leader. She was committed to the challenges that came with that endeavor. Her intelligence, integrity, and unwavering determination to do what was right, were hallmarks of her career. She had several different opportunities to hone her craft, including the banking industry and becoming an entrepreneur. Subsequently, she became a strong advocate for helping new start-up companies, while working at the University of Washington in an advisory role. She also served as a member of the City of Richland Economic Development Committee for several years. She ended her successful career as an executive with Energy Northwest, a public power utility.

Outside of work and her love of family, Suzanne had a variety of passions and interests. On the athletic side, she loved golf and was an ardent runner. For several years she sang in a group of Sweet Adelines, a female performance group based on barbershop harmony music. She also loved fine food and wine and entertaining.

Suzanne is survived by her husband, Chris. She is also survived by stepdaughter Jen Bareither and son-in-law Scott and his daughters Peyton and Ryleigh, stepson Adam Britton and daughter-in-law Stephanie and granddaughter Carly and grandson Cooper, father Maurice "Bud" Freeman and his wife Cherie. She leaves behind her sister-in-law, Sally Freeman, and immediate family, and the large and very loving Freeman clan.

Suzanne was preceded in death by her mother, Marie Strand Freeman, and brother Jeffrey Morris Freeman.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests considering a donation to the University of Washington Brain and Wellness Memory Care Center Fund (EIN 91-6001537).

A celebration of Suzanne's life will be held from 2- 4 PM on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at the Heather Village Community Center in Mt. Vernon.