Susie loved to cook and serve delicious meals Susie Dennis Combs, 98, daughter of Charles and Bessie Dennis, was born Jan. 12, 1911, and departed this life Aug. 19, 2009, following complications from a broken hip. She lived all her 98 years and 7 months in Bradleyville, Mo., where she was born.
Susie and Etcyl Combs were united in marriage Sept. 23, 1935 at Galena, Mo. They had four children: James Leon Combs, Bradleyville; Peggy Combs Weaver, Olathe, Kan.; Jerry Dean Combs, deceased; and Larry Joe Combs, superintendent of Bradleyville School.
Etcyl passed away Oct. 22, 1985. Susie lived alone in her Bradleyville home until she moved to the Forsyth Rehab Center May 12, 2009.
Susie and Etcyl owned and operated several country stores around Bradleyville, Union Flat and Brownbranch, spending most of their years at Brownbranch. They loved the store business because it made a living and allowed them to interact with their many friends. Susie served as postmistress at Brownbranch for years.
Ruby McDaniel and Susie were sisters-in-law and best friends. They talked on the phone several times a day until they both went into the Forsyth Rehab Unit and shared a room. Ruby misses her dear friend terribly.
Susie loved to cook and serve delicious meals. During Thanksgiving and Christmas she often served 30 or more kids, grandkids, spouses and friends. All the kids and grandchildren believed she made the best black raspberry jelly in the world.
Susie and Etcyl were saved in the Union Flat Baptist Church shortly after their marriage and remained committed Christians throughout their lives. She was a member of the Caney Church at Brownbranch.
Susie was an accomplished seamstress and made beautiful quilts and clothes for all her children, many with a foot-pedal sewing machine. Before they had electricity, she washed clothes on a washboard, hung them on a clothesline to dry, and pressed with an old fashioned iron heated on a wood-burning stove.
She and Etcyl made two trips to the West Coast in 1969 and 1971 to visit relatives in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California.
Susie was one of 13 children born to Charles and Bessie Dennis. All are deceased except her brother Jack Dennis, who lives in Springfield. Siblings who preceded her in death are Ralph, Arby, Mary, Georgie, Audrie, Paul, Claude, Bernice, Charles, Russell, and Emogene.
Her grandchildren include Colleen Weaver Clark, Luke Weaver, Brett Combs, Lisa Combs Lemons, Wes Combs, Wade Combs, John Combs, Susan Combs Mooney, and Brad Combs. Great-grandchildren include Meghan and Jeremy Clark; Stephen, Jordan and Travis Combs; Ellie and Riley Combs; Jacob, Natalie, and Will Mooney, and James Etheridge Lemons and Sydney Alafair Lemons.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21 at the KSE Funeral Home in Forsyth, and the funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the White River Valley Association building near Taneyville. Interment will be in the Patterson Cemetery, Bradleyville. Officiating will be the Revs. Randy Dalton and Vernon Fuller.
