Obituaries

Cynthia “Susie” Severin was born on January 2, 1958, the fifth of nine children to Jean and Bob Miller in Camden, Arkansas. She grew up mostly in East Texas, graduating valedictorian of her class from Marshall High School in 1976. She followed her older brother Jim to college at Texas A&M. 

It was at A&M that she met the love of her life, Bill Severin, who was Jim’s best friend and classmate.  After a short courtship, Susie and Bill married on January 7, 1978, just after Bill graduated with his bachelor’s degree. They lived on campus while Bill went on to graduate school and Susie earned her bachelor’s degree in Accounting. While at A&M, Susie and Bill met a small group of Aggies who became life-long friends.  These friends and their families have been getting together at least once a year for the last 40 years.  The “get togethers” started with wedding showers, then baby showers, and then just to be together with their “extended family”.  This will be the first memorial service for one of their small group.

They moved to the Houston area where Bill began his career at Texas Instruments and Susie worked in the accounting department of a local Savings and Loan. In 1982 they had their first child, Melissa. Bill’s job changed at TI which prompted them to move to Allen in 1985. They found a welcoming church home at First Presbyterian Church of Allen and became very involved in church activities. In 1988 they were blessed with a second daughter, Alice.

When Melissa started preschool at United Methodist Church of Allen, Susie left accounting to become a preschool teacher.    In 1995, Susie was named the director of the First Presbyterian Church of Allen’s new Joyful Beginnings preschool, which she had been instrumental in conceiving and creating.   By then it was clear that she had found her calling.  Her love of working with young kids was one of her life’s great passions.

Susie managed a busy schedule between her devotion to her daughters (getting them to sports, dance, piano lessons, Girl Scouts, and more), managing the preschool, and dealing with Bill’s hectic schedule.   In addition, she was PTA president at Boyd Elementary and Girl Scout troop leader.  She served two terms on session at the church and was nominated as Volunteer of the Year for Allen.  Susie’s life was one of service, never for praise or adoration.  Sher truly had a servant heart and helped many people over the years.  As her daughters grew up, Susie went to the Allen football games to watch Melissa in the drill team and to Alice’s basketball games. 

In 1998, Bill and Susie moved to Lucas where they designed and had built their dream house. Melissa and Alice graduated from Allen High School and made their Mother very proud as they also graduated from college and began careers of their own. In 2004, Melissa married Byron Foote and followed her mother’s tradition of working with kids, becoming a second-grade teacher in Allen.

In 2005, Bill and Susie moved their church membership to Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church, becoming active members. Susie continued her service to children by becoming a member of the North Star Learning Center board at Canyon Creek. She also serviced as a deacon at the church.

In 2009 her first grandchild, Emma, was born followed by two grandsons – Logan in 2012 and Asher in 2013. After 20 years’ service, Susie retired from the preschool director position to stay home and take care of her grandkids. 2018 started as a joyous year with the celebration of Bill and Susie’s 40^th wedding anniversary and Alice’s wedding to Eric Burgett.

Susie always cherished a deep love of family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, reading novels, sewing, and gardening. She unexpectedly passed away after a very brief illness on May 7, 2018.

Susie was preceded in death by her father, Bob Miller and her older sister Dorothy Ann who died shortly after birth.  She is survived by her mother Jean Miller; her devoted husband Bill; daughters Melissa (and Byron) Foote and Alice (and Eric) Burgett; grandchildren Emma, Logan, and Asher Foote; brothers Bob, Jim and Chris Miller and their families; sisters Carol Warren, Patti Harrison, Angie Simpson, and Dee Tuma and their families; and a beautiful extended family and her many friends whom she held over the years. 

Susie’s sudden passing leaves her loving family and friends grieving for their loss but grateful for her impact on their lives and for their memories of her, especially her welcoming heart and her natural proclivity to put the needs of others before her own.

Her memorial service will take place on Saturday, May 19 at 10:30 at Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church, 3901 North Star Road, Richardson, Texas, 75082.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts to Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church.