Susan Janell Heil's Obituary
Susan Janell (Smith) Heil, 67, of Pasadena, Texas, passed away on Monday, July 18, 2022
Susan was born in Houston, Texas on June 30, 1955. Preceded in death in 2012 by her loving husband of 35 years, Wesley “Cookie” Fred Heil, Jr.; parents, John Bryan and Mary Jo (Bennett) Smith, and brother, Fredrick Clayton Smith. Survived by daughter, Brandie Lynn Heil (Deer Park) and son, Wesley Bryan Heil (Pasadena); stepmom Nancy (Jones) Smith (Deer Park), Aunt Juanita (Charles) Hickman; brother, Lonnie Smith (Karen) (Manville), Jane Gallahan (Virginia), Terry (Norwood) Green (Robert) (Missouri City), Shawn Davis (Pasadena), Marvin Hamrick (Pasadena), many nieces and nephews, friends and loved ones.
The family invites you to join them in the celebration of Susan’s life in the following services:
Tuesday July 26, 2022
Elim Church
3200 S Richey Street, Houston, TX 77017
Pastor Ron and Pastor Mark will preside. Masks required.
9am Public Viewing
10am Funeral Service followed by fellowship and light bites at the church
12:30pm Depart Elim Church for:
Houston VA National Cemetery (there will not be a processional)
10410 Veterans Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77038
1:30pm Vehicle line up
2pm Committal Service
Susan was the Head Majorette at Jesse H Jones High School (1973). She excelled in drill team and was known for fire and machete twirling.
She studied dance at San Jacinto College before opening her own studio in Pasadena, Texas. She loved teaching young kids the art of dance.
She was a member of the JC Light and Power Company, a Christian coffee house, at Park Crest Methodist Church. The group traveled all over Texas singing and praising God. Susan, Terry and Robert spent time together with this group as it provided fellowship across from Jones High School. Little did they know that the friendship formed in high school and as young adults would span across 50 years and continue through Susan’s marriage to Wes, kids, churches, jobs, travels and sadly, terminal illnesses. Not an easy accomplishment in today’s world, but these two couples truly were best friends all these years!
She was a member of Marriage Encounter, a Christian leadership group that held weekend retreats that helped married couples with communication and anything they needed to support one another and form lasting bonds and deep connections in their marriage.
Susan and Terry were sisters by choice. They joined the Red Hat Society, Pasadena, and both loved the colorful friendships that were formed and fun things the group did together.
Susan was the Youth Director for four years at Pasadena Boulevard United Methodist Church. The church was home to her entire family for many years. She was proud of the fact that she had been a faithful member of PBUMC, Sunset UMC, and Elim Church. Shawn Davis, another lifelong friend and sister, shared that they had a great time in church dramas, and sharing the word of God through theatrical performances.
Elim Church, with its amazing choir and loving congregation is the church home Susan chose in the last part of her life. She chose this church because she loved Pastor Ron and Pastor Mark with their uplifting messages, the beautiful music, and, most importantly, the relationships and friendships she forged. She, Wes, and the kids felt like family here and they are thankful.
Susan retired after a 35-year career as a paralegal in the Houston area. She spent many of those years working in Pasadena with Attorney Bob Bates, and Attorney John Morgan and his wife, Brenda. More than co-workers, they were truly friends. Susan was smart, organized, resourceful and reliable. She was loved, no matter which law firm she was with at the time.
She loved George Strait! She served as the President of the George Strait Fan Club 12 years but claimed title as his number one fan her whole life. One year she saw George Strait 18 times with her daughter, Brandie!! Brandie remembers this adventure fondly, as it took the two of them to places and performance halls all across Texas!!
She was an award-winning cat breeder for almost 30 years. Sherekhan and Blue were two of her favorite cats, and her favorite breeds were Himalayans and Persians. When we were compiling her memory video, Kim laughed and said, “Aunt Susan might have more photos of her cats than she did of her kids!” Brandie and Bryan both joined in, laughed and shared, “we think she did!” Sherekhan and Blue, her cat kids, are definitely in the video.
Seriously, the thing Susan cared about most was her family. She met “Cookie” Wesley Heil, Jr. through his stepsister and her best friend in high school, Jane Powell Gallahan. They were married on December 4, 1977. They formed lifelong bonds with neighbors like Pete and Tabby, at the home they bought on Raspberry Lane in Pasadena. It was here, in Pasadena, that they were proud to welcome a son, Wesley Bryan, in July, 1978, and a daughter, Brandie Lynn, in August, 1982. They were loving and supportive parents. They saw the kids through their education, friendships, and first loves. Susan and Wes opened their hearts and home to Marvin and loved him as a son, too.
Sadly, in 2012, Wes died from cancer. Susan later wrote, “my daddy was so supportive when my beloved Wes became sick, and I will be forever grateful.” She was also grateful to Nancy, her stepmom, and Lonnie and Fred, her brothers, and Karen, Lonnie’s wife. She thanked many friends and family for their support during this time. It was after Wes passed that Susan, Brandie, and Bryan would lean on each other and stay strong. Many daughters say they become best friends with their moms as adults. Brandie will tell you that it was Bryan and Susan that became best friends after 2012.
If you were a kid, Susan loved you. Brandie or Bryan, niece or nephew, kid from church, dance, friend, or neighbor. Just ask Marvin, Elizabeth, Kim, Lyndsie, Nicole, Susan, Kaelynn, Jenna, Robbie, Jack, Jesse, Conner, Hailey, Afton, Vaughn, Colten, Hunter, Holly and many more. She was kind. And she had a beautiful smile and big laugh.
Proud Texan, dancing, twirling, sparkling, teaching, church life, dinner theatre, singing, hymnals, George Strait, travel, kids, cats, lots of cats, award-winning, beautiful, spoiled cats, and adventures and fun with Wes, Brandie, Bryan, family, and lifelong friends.
Susan Janell Heil was loved, and she will be missed.
What’s your fondest memory of Susan?
What’s a lesson you learned from Susan?
Share a story where Susan's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Susan you’ll never forget.
How did Susan make you smile?
