Susan Higgins Deesing

Susan Higgins Deesing passed away on June 15, 2022, after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

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Susan was born on May 31, 1957, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Dennis Granshaw Higgins and Belva Bowthorpe Higgins. She grew up in Holladay and was very proud of her deep roots in the area. Susan graduated from Olympus High School in 1975 and then graduated from the University of Utah in 1979. While at the U, she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and met her husband, Kevin Deesing, at the Pi Kappa Alpha house. They discovered a shared a love for skiing. On their first ski date, Mom showed up in jeans, and Dad, having spent a winter skiing in France, really looked the part. He was concerned about what the day might bring. Mom skied his socks off. She was a tremendous skier whose fluid style resembled Stein Erickson as she glided down the mountain.

Susan and Kevin married on June 30, 1980 and built a home in Cottonwood Heights where they raised three kids, a few cocker spaniels over the years, and created an incredible life together. Whether it was a weekend skiing together, hanging out at the Park City house, yearly trips to Sun Valley, adventures in Peru, or working in the garden, she truly loved being with her family. Sunday dinners were very important to her because it brought the family together every week. Everyone looked forward to those weekly dinners; Mom was a fantastic cook. Susan’s family was her entire world.

Susan was an avid runner, spending early mornings at the Sports Mall or the streets between Holladay and Cottonwood Heights. She was at the top of her age group more than a few times in the Deseret News 10k and various half marathons. Susan also loved gardening, and though her kids all tried to compete, nothing ever compared to how spectacular her gardens were. She enjoyed walking through the yard, showing her kids her plants, and engaging in lighthearted banter about how much prettier her flowers were than theirs. In her final years, she became a backyard beekeeper; so there was never a shortage of honey for family and friends.

Susan was an incredible wife, mom, and grandma who always put the needs of others before her own. She had an amazing laugh and a ready smile. Not one to mince words, she always told it you how it was. She had her own way of doing things, and it was usually right. Her passing has left a hole in all our hearts, and we will miss her terribly.

Preceded in death by her parents and her sister Carolyn (Kelly). Survived by her husband of 42 years, Kevin, son Andrew (Jessyca), daughter Natalie (Brett) Pharis, son Jonathan (Jenna), and her three grandsons who absolutely adored their grandma, her brother Rick (Julie) Higgins, Nephew Jeff (Amy) Higgins, and Niece Allison (Drew) Armstrong.

The family would like to acknowledge her doctors at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, the University of Colorado Cancer Care, and nurses and staff at Huntsman At Home and Community Nursing Services for their compassionate care for Susan.

To honor Susan’s wishes, there will be a private graveside service at the Memorial Holladay Cemetery. The family will hold a celebration of Susan’s life later this summer.