Suzanne Marie Davis

      Suzanne Marie Davis, age 77, of Laingsburg, Michigan, passed away peacefully Saturday, January 18, 2025, at her home.
      Suzanne was born in Flint, Michigan on September 7, 1947, the daughter of William Henry and Lelah Florence (Maraskine) Green of Montrose, Michigan and step-mother Sylvia (Ranger) Green. Sue graduated from Hill-McCloy High School in Montrose in 1965. In these early days she could be found working at the Kresge five-and-dime store in Flint, getting into trouble with Pam, or hanging out with Shorty.
     On June 21, 1969, she married Frank M. Davis at the First Methodist Church in New Lothrop, Michigan. Settling in a small house in downtown Durand, which they quickly outgrew, they moved outside the city into a house built by Frank and his friends to raise their three boys. Sue continued to care for her own family as she continued to hone her skills as a fantastic cook and a natural caregiver. She taught Sunday School at the First Congregational Church in Durand for a time. Later she would work at Robert Kerr Elementary in Durand as a teacher’s assistant and later as a “room-mother” for her kids. She always had energy for her family and her friends, selflessly sacrificing her time and her sleep to stay up late finishing a project and helping another.
     Between raising a family and supporting a husband, Sue began operating a child daycare out of her home that endured some 30-years. The daycare transformed her into the “Suey” that so many children knew. She was able to provide a safe and joyous place for countless different children to grow up experiencing her delicious home-cooked meals, summer homework packets, backyard baseball, and swimming in a pool that was always full of kids. While helping raise her own kids and so many others, she also cared for many people in the community. If you were sick, or sad, or stricken with grief, Sue was always close-by with some nourishment for your soul. A hot meal in her kitchen was often all one needed to overcome the biggest challenges.
     Preceded in death by her husband in February of 2000, Sue closed the daycare sometime later so that she could undertake the role as full-time Grandma. She moved to Laingsburg and continued caring for her family spending her last 20 plus years counseling, cooking, and being a sympathetic ear to talk to for her many friends and loved ones. Whether you called her Suzanne, Sue, Suey, sister, mom, aunt or Grammie, you were lucky to have known her and to have spent a moment of comfort in her kitchen. Her positive impact on all of us and our families will endure.
     She is survived by her three sons: John Davis (Andy Ball) of Laguna Beach, California; Matt (Oksana Slipchuk) Davis of Spring Lake, Michigan; and Eric (Rosalba) Davis of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; five grandchildren: Jackson, Grace, Evan, Celia and Zakhar; siblings: Sylvia “Peanut” (Rich) Hines of Flushing, Michigan; Bill (Elsa) Green of Hancock, Michigan; Ralph “Toad” (Dot) Green of Lincolnton, North Carolina; and Joseph “Tuff” Green of Montrose, Michigan; brother-in-law William (Pat) Davis of New Lothrop, Michigan; many nieces, nephews, and close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings: Yvonne Donahue of Flint, Michigan; Lyle Saylor also of Flint, Michigan; Robert “Squeak” Green of Harrison, Michigan; MaryEllen Timlick of Birch Run, Michigan; Kay Burt of Albertville, Alabama; brother-in-law Valentine Young and wife Barbara of Sanford, Michigan; her nephew, William “Scott” Davis, and many dear friends.
     Memorials may be made in her honor to the Shiawassee County Humane Society or your local food pantry. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Houghton Chapel, Ovid, Michigan.