1961 ~ 2025
Susan Patricia Adair was born on December 18, 1961, in Sandy, Utah, to her loving parents, Warren Richard “Dick” Adair and Patricia Donaldson Adair. She passed away peacefully in her home on December 24, 2025, surrounded by family and friends, after a courageous four-year battle with cancer. Throughout her illness, Susan faced every challenge with grace, valiance, and an unwavering spirit, inspiring all who knew her.
Susan graduated from Jordan High School, where she cherished time with her friends as a member of the Charlonian Drill Team. She remained close to her high school friends throughout her life. After high school, she worked at Valley Bank as a teller and later held various call center management positions, including roles with Discover Card and the Red Cross. She was loved and respected by all who worked with her and formed many lifelong friendships throughout her career.
Susan delighted in spoiling her nieces and great-nieces and nephews, all of whom adored her. She cherished creating special memories with them, from hosting sleepovers and birthday shopping trips to attending University of Utah events—especially gymnastics meets, which she loved deeply. Watching the meets together and hoping to appear on the Jumbotron became a beloved family tradition that will continue in her honor. A passionate shopper, Susan famously began her Christmas shopping the day after Christmas for the following year.
Susan also loved the arts. She cherished the magic of live performances including concerts and musical theater, and the time spent experiencing them with those she loved. Some of her most treasured moments were spent at Sundance with her longtime boyfriend, Steve, enjoying peaceful time together at his cabin—moments filled with laughter, rest, and quiet joy.
She devoted her life to serving others and brought joy wherever she went. She truly saw people. She listened, remembered, and cared in a way that made others feel important and understood. Her ability to remember the details of people’s lives was a reflection of how much she loved them.
She was the keeper of our family’s history and the soul of our gatherings. By sharing stories, preserving traditions, and teaching younger generations where they came from, Susan wove our family together across generations.
Susan is survived by her mother, Patricia Adair; her brothers Brent Adair, Mark Adair (Theresa), Rick Adair; and her best friend, Steve Breitling; three nieces; five great-nieces; four great-nephews; and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Warren Richard “Dick” Adair.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Rebekah and Pearson of Intermountain Hospice for their dedication and compassionate care during Susan’s final month of life.
A Celebration of Life to be held January 16, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Azalea Event Venue, 11277 S. Kestrel Rise Rd. South Jordan, UT 84009
A chocolate covered cherry will always evoke memories of a favorite patient.
I was honored to care for Susan and will be forever grateful our paths crossed even in such a less than ideal situation. We bonded on so many different levels. And she always brought me cherries. Rest in peace my dear friend.
Susan was the greatest boss, and an even better friend. She truly had the ability to make everyone around her feel so special, because they actually were so special to her! If you had the gift of having her in your life, you are blessed beyond measure. I'm so grateful that we got one last brunch together with you, and I wish we could have had so many more. You are a positive light that can never be extinguished. Heaven is lucky to have you. Until we meet again my friend. Love you always.
I am so sorry for your loss. I worked with Susan at Discover, she was an amazing leader that everyone cherished and looked up to. My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time.
I am so saddened to hear this news. I adored Susan. She was a fabulous leader and mentor that I had the privilege to work with.
This just breaks my heart.I know she fought a courageous battle. Many blessings to use Susan, my love to you in heaven.
Heartbroken to hear 💔 of our loss. My life was better knowing Susan ❤️ prayers and love
Susan was my cousin, we lived together in Lake Tahoe for about a year. She was the best person and family member. She will be missed.
Susan was truly one of the kindest most thoughtful people I’ve ever known. She was always thinking about her family and friends. I never went shopping with her when she wasn’t looking for something for her nieces or a friend or family member. Always planning a surprise or sleep over.
We spent many an hour talking about the housewives. She would fill me in on any sightings of the Salt Lake Housewives.
Shopping and long lunches, we always had such a great time. Her infectious smile was contagious.
I will miss her so much. I’m sure she is having a long lunch with my Mom right now.
My thoughts are with you. Always loved running into Susan. It always lead to smiles and laughs from growing up together.
I am so sorry to hear of Susan’s passing. I had the pleasure of working with Susan at Discover and have very fond memories of her. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this very difficult time.
I am truly sorry for your loss . I worked with Susan for many of my years at Discover Card. What truly amazed me was her kind heart even years after she left Discover when my son died and she sent me a personal letter that really touched my heart. She made me realize that friendships are made long after the work life. She truly touched my heart
I was deeply saddened to hear of Susan’s passing. I had the privilege of working with Susan for many years at Discover Financial Services, and she was truly one of those people who made a lasting impression on everyone around her.
Susan was a warm and caring person who always had a kind word, a welcoming smile, and the patience to listen. She had a way of making people feel seen and supported, and she was always willing to help in any way she could. That generosity of spirit made her not only a wonderful colleague, but a genuinely special person.
Susan was a quiet light in the world, and her presence will be deeply missed by those who were fortunate enough to know her. Please know that my thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
With sincere sympathy,
Howard
Sorry for your loss. She was so kind and had a beautiful smile.
Love you.♥️
I moved in next door to Susan in the year 2007. She has been the perfect neighbor for all the years since then. We used to joke about how we hoped no one who played the drums would move in when one of us moved out. I will really miss her. My condolences to all her family and friends.
I had the good fortune of working with Susan at Discover Card for many years, and benefited from her involvement in several different roles.
It has been a difficult few years for those of us that worked in the Sandy Operations Center that Discover Card added in the early 1990’s. I will be forever grateful that I started in leadership there, as hindsight has proven that it was an incredibly well managed company, and the culture that existed was easily the best I have experienced…..and it is due to the people who worked there, personified by Susan Adair!
Susan is an excellent example of just what that environment produced. Though we worked in Collections, notoriously a hyper competitive environment, Susan left her own interests “at the door” any time she was asked to be involved with a project. The restaurant in the center of the Operations Center was adorned with titles “Best of….”. There was a string of consecutive years that we were the best Operations Center in the company, and it is not a coincidence that the most successful years for Sandy match up to where Susan and her Team were.
I also met my wife of 26 years (Tina Ison) when I started as a newly hired Collections Rep in Sandy, and she passed away in 2020 after a similar battle with pancreatic cancer that took her, like Susan, long before all of us were ready to say goodbye. It seems as though Father Time has been keeping a close eye on our “Graduating Class” from Discover Card, and Susan is the most recent heartbreaking loss of one of the people who created the most effective self managed work group I have ever experienced.
My heart and thoughts are with Susan’s family and close friends. Knowing the impact she had on those around her (like me) with relatively little time spent, I can only imagine the sense of loss and grief they are experiencing.
Thank you Susan for making my life richer, my professional skills more refined, and for the impact you made on the business we were helping manage in our 20’s! I am forever grateful for the positive impact Susan had on me, and everyone we worked with. ❤️
Jason Orwin
I was fortunate to work with Susan for many years at Discover. She was an amazing leader and friend to so many. May you all feel comfort at this difficult time.
I married Susan's cousin, Shawn, in 1990 and Susan was there to help celebrate! I'm so glad Susan was in my life and that I knew her exuberance and love for life. I mean, just look at that smile and that is what I will carry in my heart and life about her. She will be missed.
We loved Susan like a sister! She will always have a special place in our hearts! She helped create many special memories for our family. We will miss her smiling face and fun personality! Love you Susan
Susan was a great friend and a tremendous person. I have a lot of great memories working with Susan. She was a pleasure to be around and always had a smile to share or telling a good timely joke. I was sad to hear about her passing. Rest in Peace Susan.
As I read the condolences for Susan's family and friends, you can tell she had an impact on many-no matter how big or small. Susan and I started co-coaching at Discover Card back in early 1991. We learned and grew with each other and the support was always there when needed. Our friendship took off from that point even as our paths took different directions within The Big Orange. Both she and I continued onto other endeavors after Discover Card and have made more memories. I can still hear her inquisitive nature asking question after question and her laugh when we were enjoying ourselves. She touched, guided, coached and mentored many who are thankful she was there for the support. Peace to Steve, her family and friends. I am a luckier human for knowing Susan.
Adventurous and cherished are the two words that best describe memories of time spent with Susan. Conversations with her came easily, whether we were hiking in the mountains, walking in the valley along trails, or exercising in the gym together. Our many ATV rides at Mt. Aire, trip to Wendover, and Capital Reef were so fun. Beautiful Autumn rides and Swiss Days were more pleasurable with her! We will miss these adventures with our dear friend until we meet again.
Our most treasured memories are the many plays and concerts we’ve enjoyed together, especially those we attended at the Sandy Amphitheater. Our front row seats of the middle section of our season tickets were perfect. It was fun to dance and sing with Susan to familiar tunes of the good old days and reminisce about the memories the songs brought with them. One night we had to make a quick dash from the outdoor concert because of a downpour. We took shelter inside our van in hopes the concert could resume, but instead we found pleasure in a long visit while watching the storm. These date nights built a great bond between us and we’re so sad they must come to an end for now.
We admire Susan’s positive outlook on life and the way she found the best in people. We never heard her say an unkind thing about anybody. She is also one of the most thoughtful people we know. She was meticulous in her gift giving and considerate with how she could add to any gathering by bringing a game, treat, or anything else she could think of to make the event more special. She was trustworthy, reliable, and at times very entertaining. We love the memory of the nose blowing contest, or our challenge for doing the splits. She was a delight, uplifting, and so fun to be with. Her example encourages us to do and be better than we are.
We love you! Mark and Barbara Wilson
I’m saddened to just learn of Susan’s passing. My sincere condolences to the family. Susan was a manager to me, who supported my growth and development when I was trying to get promoted. She was kind and made me feel welcomed and comfortable when I felt uncertain about change and how best to adapt. Thank you! Susan 💜
To the Adair’s, Steve and her amazing friends, please accept my most heartfelt condolences. The dear love you shared with this amazing woman will remain with you always. Susan was my cousin. I’m Lorene’s, (Dolly) (Ma) oldest granddaughter, Valerie. We only knew each other as awkward pre-teen skinny giggly girls. I was either in FL, IL, or CA. Her mom, my cousin, babysat my mother, Carol. I still call her Patsy, I’ve never known her as Patricia. Her grandmother is my great Aunt Geri, my grandmother’s , (Ma) sister. We’d get to see each other on our summer car journeys to or from CA that always took us thru Sandy. Back when Stuckey’s were still stopping places for gas and such. Your mom was always so welcoming during our visits.
Your big heart and love of life comes from your folks and a long line of strong women. Your light and legacy will remain forever in the hearts of those you touched in this life. Taken of course much too soon, you made a difference each and everyday; a life well loved and lived. See you next time cuz. Much love and peace always. Godspeed