Mary Susan Sudlow
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Mitzi left this world on February 2, 2022. Daughter, sister, wife, friend- Mary Susan Sudlow, aka Mitzi to her family and to her friends after school years, was born March 4, 1948 to Lillian Gehb Sudlow and Robert Sudlow in Lawrence, Kansas. The firstborn of four children, she attended local schools, graduating from Lawrence High School in 1966 and the University of Kansas in 1970 with a BA in Art History. Fortunate to travel as a youth to France, Italy, and Greece, she had many travel adventures, eventually landing in Sonoma County, California, in 1972. She returned in 2000 to live in the Lawrence area near most of her family until her passing. She met David Barnes in 2004 and they wed a year later. She passed in her sleep at their home near Tonganoxie.
Mitzi was a beautiful and bright spirit with a big heart. She accumulated loyal friends and admirers everywhere she went. Her creativity, curiosity, and caring enabled her to become an accomplished leathercrafter, stained glass artisan, spiritual seeker, and animal advocate. She was a devoted volunteer at Operation WildLife in Linwood for many years and always had a bevy of animal companions. Her passing has left a hole in the hearts of many.
Mitzi is survived by her mother Lillian Sudlow, husband David Barnes, sister Gretchen Sudlow, brother Peter Sudlow, brothers-in-law Ron Smith and Tom Wiscarson, and niece and nephew Rachael Sudlow and Quentin Sudlow. She was predeceased by her father Robert Sudlow and sister Amy Sudlow.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Operation Wildlife would be appreciated by all and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
I have never met a person who was as loving and loved as much as Mitz. It was among the greatest gifts of my life to have known her and be counted among her many friends and admirers.
She gave of herself: love, laughter, empathy and warmth. She was also a really good cook…
Thank you, Mitz, for being so welcoming, caring and so nice to be with. Your smile and soft laughter linger in my mind…
We cannot stop loving you…peace be yours.
We were just teenagers when we met. Your laughter was infectious. I remember you rebuked me once for being the last person who called you “Mary”,
I am blessed that ours was a friendship that lasted a lifetime.
Rest In Peace my dear sweet, Mitzi
Although Mitzi was in my life for a short period of time, about 5 years in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, she was someone I always remembered. Mitzi was such a beautiful, warm, bright, engaging person; someone who, from the beginning, treated me as if we were long-time friends. Mitzi, it was such a blessing to have known you… now your memory is a blessing.
I never had a friend as Kind, Sweet, Caring as you. You were always there for me. My heart is crushed. I am blessed to have the precious memories and had you in my life. Love and Peace be with you Mitz.
You’re the prettiest,nicest,smartest and funniest (who else would have a funeral for a frog at Lake View in the winter?) girl in our high school class. David I am so sorry you were her favorite pet and best friend. What a neat beautiful and I’ll say funny again person I’am lucky to have shared the same planet with her.
With admiration love and respect Charley and Claudia Kincaid
You’re the prettiest,nicest,smartest and funniest (who else would have a funeral for a frog at Lake View in the winter?) girl in our high school class. David I am so sorry you were her favorite pet and best friend. What a neat beautiful and fun loving friend. I’am lucky to have shared the same planet with her.
With admiration love and respect Charley and Claudia Kincaid
Our world is a lesser place without you in it. Where you have gone is now a better place. Peace.
I knew Mary in high school and remember her particularly from English classes. Charlie is right about prettiest, nicest and smartest. As the photo shows she had the most beautiful eyes. She was empathetic before anyone used the word. I moved away from Lawrence after college in 1970 and wondered what had happened to her. I happened on to M Sudlow leather and stained glass works on a visit to Lawrence in recent years and learned she was now Mitzi. I wish i had tracked her down then to say that she was a special person when i was in high school. Condolences to David and the Sudlow family. Nancy Taylor Shivers
When I first met Mitzi in the early 70s she was bringing her stained glass to my mom, Betsy Webster, to sell in her art shop Jivana on east 8th street. I was so impressed with her talents and calmness. In later years we reconnected when I returned from Hawaii. It was nice to be with some one so trusting and sharing her studio and her fathers art works. My uncle Wayne Wilson and Bob, and Mr. Green all went to KU together and like Mitzi, I grew up with that influence. I wish Mitzi will travel well in her new journey as I will always be thinking of her.
Mitzi was a genuine, down to earth and kind soul. She was a bundle of joy and I’ll always remember her. I missed her when she moved from Lawrence to Tongi as we use to see each other almost every day when she was my next door neighbor. R.I.P. my friend.
Mitzi (Mary) was an attendant to the Spring Queen for the Junior-Senior Prom at Lawrence High School in 1966. I was honored to be her escort.
From the 1966 LHS yearbook, Mitzi described her experience.
“Being a Spring Queen was like having lots of people smiling at me all at once – like the nice effects of one person’s smile multiplied a hundred times which, needless to say, resulted in a marvelous, wonderful experience.”
Please say hello to Jennifer in the spiritual dimension of the universe.
Mitzi was a volunteer for Operation WildLife (OWL) for many years. She was bright, funny, kind, caring and when she walked into the facility it lit up. I loved to tease her because she had this wonderful laugh that only she could have. She spoke often of David and her studio (it was the best gift she ever got). She loved her art, her friends and there wasn’t a young animal that she couldn’t care for or mend. I often gave her the “difficult” ones that needed more time and patience because she gave them her all. I can’t begin to count the number of young animals at OWL that she saved with her fortitude. I would catch her quietly encouraging them to nurse or get well and jokingly remind her they didn’t need to learn English – she would laugh and smile, shaking her head in agreement. She was one of those special people that was your friend forever – months or years could go by and when you met again it was like yesterday and nothing changed except maybe we had a few more gray hairs or wrinkles. I’m so sorry for your loss.