Suzanne Marie Keye

Sue passed away peacefully on October, 12, 2023 at home in Park City, Utah after many years of living with Primary Lateral Sclerosis and a short time with an aggressive form of dementia. She was born to Ray and Mildred Edstrom in Minneapolis, Minnesota and grew up in Maplewood, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul. She attended the University of Minnesota and earned a degree in Elementary Education. Following her graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, William (Bud) Keye, MD, her husband of 58 years.

Sue was a teacher. Fresh out of school, she was faced with 41 fifth-graders on her first day of teaching. To top it off, 30 of them were boys! For the rest of her life she remembered the names and antics of many of those students. After she retired she continued to “teach”. Most importantly, she taught her children and grandchildren to serve and care for others and to strive to be the best they could be.

Sue was a loyal and generous friend to many. When she learned that someone was financially strapped she would show up at their door with bags of groceries. When she learned that someone had significant health problems she would appear with medical supplies and equipment. She also had the ability to maintain close friendships over many years and many miles.

Sue was a dedicated and tireless volunteer. In the 1980’s she volunteered to raise money for college scholarships for the graduating seniors of Park City High School. In those days everyone knew everyone in Park City. She spent hours walking into the locally owned businesses on Main Street and asking their owners, her friends, for a contribution. They responded generously. She also sat across the desk from some of Utah’s most successful and wealthy businessmen to ask them to donate money for the students. They too, responded generously. Later in life she joined P.E.O., an international women's philanthropic organization whose primary focus is to provide educational opportunities for female students worldwide. It was through P.E.O. that she made some of her best and dearest friends.

Sue was a fierce supporter of those who have been historically excluded because of their disabilities. She was fortunate to have many friends and acquaintances who didn’t define her by her disabilities, but by her abilities. She wanted others to be treated similarly. Her personal philosophy was one of inclusion and diversity.

Sue was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and sister. As a mother she balanced autonomy with boundaries, taught resilience, encouraged perseverance in the face of adversity, fostered a mindset that embraced learning and personal development, and supported her children’s interests, strengths, and aspirations. She was also tremendously supportive of her husband’s career as a medical caregiver, educator and researcher and easily made friends with his colleagues and team members.

Finally, she was a committed Christian. Over the years, she attended services, taught Sunday school and enjoyed Bible study in nine churches in seven states. When her health no longer allowed her to attend services in person, she enjoyed online services from home.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mildred and her father, Raymond. She is survived by her husband, William, her children, Deborah(Dave), and Jeffery(Nicole), her grandchildren, Aidan and Olivia, her brother, Ron, her sisters Janice and Shirley and all of their children.

Sue was blessed to be cared for by her wonderful caregivers, Gladis, Sia and Wynnie of Caring Hearts. They sang and laughed and loved each other for the past 16 months. She also felt well cared for because of the special people at Applegate Hospice. Mike and Christine held a special place in her heart.

An interment and Celebration of Life will occur at a time and place to be determined. The family suggest that memorials may be made to the Neuromuscular Medicine Division, Department of Neurology at the University of Utah c/o The University of Utah Health Sciences Development, 332 South 1400 East, Suite 160 Salt Lake City, UT 841120 or the charity of one’s choice.