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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Cresswell, Eleanor Ruth “Suzy”

Age 88

CRESSWELL, Eleanor Ruth “Suzy” Completed her life’s journey with family beside her in Spokane, Washington, on February 19, 2015.

Born Eleanor Ruth Dawson on November 2, 1926 to James Claude Dawson and Lucie Rae Sadler Dawson in Beaumont, Texas, she was the youngest of five children.

Raised on a chicken ranch in east Texas during the Great Depression, she grew up knowing the meaning of hard work.

During her career she built and managed farms, helped Dad start and succeed at his medical practice, raised and nurtured two boys while remodeling and managing several homes.

An instant friend to all dogs and most birds with special devotion to roadrunners and cardinals, she held humans to a much tougher standard.

An ardent collector of cast iron still banks, she spent many Michigan summer weekends with her boys at antique auctions, shows and flea markets.

A longtime resident of Saginaw, Michigan, and Palm Desert, California, she loved the desert and her roses.

While Dad was still alive, she would serve as co-pilot on the semi annual migration.

After Dad passed, she made the trip alone well into her late seventies.

Piloting her beloved Lincoln across country or up to Washington State to see her boys, she loved the adventure and the ability to do it on her own.

A twenty eight year survivor of breast cancer, she was, shall we say, determined.

Usually set in her ways, she was at times adaptable, changing the spelling of her nick name in her later years from Susie to Suzy.

A long time University of Texas football fan, since moving to Spokane she rarely missed watching or listening to the Mariners’ games.

Of her immediate family, Suzy was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Thomas A. Cresswell and her youngest son, Bertrand A. Cresswell.

She is survived by her eldest son, Tom B. Cresswell (Rebecca) and two grandchildren, Thomas B. Cresswell and Michael G. Cresswell.

Suzy’s final wishes specified no services, no cremation and she wished to rest outside under a tree.

So it will be.

Suzy will give up the spot next to her husband in Saginaw’s Oakwood Memorial Mausoleum to anchor (under a tree) the Cresswell family in their adopted home of Spokane, WA.

How appropriate.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Bert’s name to Joshua Tree National Park, either online or at 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, California, 92277.

Thank you.

Suzy, you did well!

Your family and friends miss you.

We are richer for your guidance and expectations.

We hope that you will reconnect with the friends and family that we have unfortunately sent ahead to the large meeting table in the sky and save us a spot!

In the meantime we will continue to teach our children and their children your lessons!

To view Suzy’s online memorial, please visit www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com