VERONA, WI — Myrtle (“Suzy”) Breedlove, age 95, passed away on July 23, 2016 in her home.
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| Myrtle (“Suzy”) Breedlove |
She was born Myrtle Cooney on March 2, 1921 in Lincoln, Nebraska, the daughter of Cecil and Vera Cooney. She graduated Valedictorian from Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she played the lead in several plays, and participated in gymnastics and the marching band. She started playing piano at an early age, and continued playing into her 80’s. She married Bob Breedlove, her high school sweetheart, on June 11, 1941. Bob served in the U.S. Army in Europe from 1942 to 1948. In 1946, Suzy joined Bob in Germany, where they lived for 3 years.
Soon after returning to the States, Bob began an illustrious career with Birds Eye Foods, which moved the family to Pocomoke, MD, Brooklyn, NY, and Caribou, ME. In Caribou, Suzy served as President of the School Board. She and her best friend ,Connie Harmon, were champion duplicate bridge players (“we loved to beat the guys”). In 1967, the family moved to Celaya, Mexico for a great adventure with a new culture and language. Suzy and Bob fell in love with Mexico and made many Mexican friends. Suzy’s bridge skills proved useful in the women’s weekly poker party (“I bought my new outfits with my poker winnings”).
After 9 years in Mexico, Bob passed away at age 55, but Suzy stayed on for 15 more years, including serving as the Director of a successful bilingual school. In 1990, Suzy retired to Green Valley, AZ, where she made many friends, joined two bridge clubs, hosted countless dinner parties, and acted as a volunteer interpreter for American retirees and their Mexican-American gardeners. She was a member of Valley Presbyterian Church.
In 2013, Suzy moved to Verona, WI to be closer to her family, who helped care for her, and she remained there until her death. She is survived by her brother Ron (Susie Cooney); her sons, Lynn (Evelyn Mazack) and Lon (Penny Breedlove); and her daughter, Elizabeth. She has four grandchildren: Caitlin, Tristan (Mike Bare), Lon Jr., and Jason; and two great-grandchildren who brightened the last chapter of her life: Hattie and Dillon. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Lloyd and Pep. In her final days, she told her family, “I wouldn’t change a single thing about my life, or about any of you.”
There will be a private memorial service for family and friends in Madison, WI on August 27, 2016. In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations may be made to Welcome Home Hospice-C4CS, and mailed to C4CS, 354 W. Main St., Madison, WI 53701. a/c Faiths Funeral & Cremation Services www.866allfaiths.com.
