Suzanne M. Trickey
Suzanne Miller Trickey of Marshfield, MO, passed away Monday, February 7, 2022, after a brief stay at The Neighborhood of Quail Creek Skilled Nursing in Springfield, MO. She was born on November 27, 1940, in Mexico, MO, to Lt. Colonel Robert A. Miller and Helen (Brown) Miller.
Suzanne would attend a total of 26 different schools from grades one through twelve due to her father’s service in the Air Force. This included a 2-year stint in Narsarsuaq, Greenland at Narsarssuak Air Base. Suzanne met the love of her life, Jimmie Trickey, at Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Arkansas. They started dating when she was 15 and they married on October 1, 1959, in Amarillo, TX. They added two daughters to their family before moving to Springfield, MO, in 1964 when Jim took a job as a tv engineer at KY3 TV station.
After the birth of their third daughter, Suzanne returned to college to earn a bachelor's degree in education from Missouri State College. She embarked on a long career in teaching students with special needs and behavior difficulties. She began teaching in 1969 at Watkins Elementary and Weaver Elementary, both in Springfield, MO. With a few years gap as a stay-at-home mom, Suzanne returned to teaching at the Bolivar Special Education Coop in Bolivar, MO. Her last public teaching assignment was at Marshfield Junior High in Marshfield, MO, until 1993. Along the way she earned a Master of Education from Missouri State University and would end up accruing many more college hours above her master's degree, enough to be credited as a Phd.
In 1993, Suzanne became a professor at Evangel University, Springfield, MO, as Head of the Special Education Teacher and Teacher Training Program, retiring in 2004. She was very proud of the teachers that this program produced who were prepared to love, as well as educate, their special needs students.
Suzanne was accomplished and mostly self-taught in many areas, such as sewing, quilting, gardening, canning, plumbing, planning long road trips, genealogy, and studying about medical issues. She shared her love of reading, crafting, camping, and learning with her family. Many of her students have teddy bears that they made in her junior high classes.
Most of all, Suzanne loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was a member of Marshfield Assembly of God. She did not fear death because she had absolute conviction that she was bound for heaven and a new body. She shared her love and joy in Christ with everyone and used every opportunity to share with people she met the peace and assurances that God promises to us and that she leaned upon.
She is survived by her husband, Jimmie Trickey, one sister, Sharon (Don) Brindle, brother-in-law Clifton (Phyllis) Trickey and daughters and grandchildren: Elisabeth (Lawrence) Ayres of Rolla, MO, and children Nathaniel (Christina) of Rolla, MO, Grant Ayres of MO, and Katherine (Jacob) Higgins of O’Fallon, MO; Karen (Carl) Gore, and children Jennifer Gore, Daniel (McKenzie) Gore, and Laura (Jared) Minor all of Marshfield, MO; and Becky (Brad) McGoon of Marshfield, MO and children Olivia (Nathan) Wieneke of Springfield, MO, Adam (Hannah) McGoon of Lancaster, CA, and Samuel (Mary Katherine) of Ogden, UT. Great grandchildren include Carissa and Noah Ayres; Mary, Annabelle, and William Higgins; Jamison and Braeya Minor; Campbell and Eleanor McGoon; and Callaway Wieneke. Suzanne also enjoyed all her grandpuppies.
The family would like to thank the staff at Quail Creek, Springfield, MO, for their loving care towards Suzanne as she finished her final few days on Earth at their facility.
Please join us as we celebrate Suzanne Trickey’s life with her family and friends on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Marshfield Assembly of God at 10 a.m. followed by a brief visitation in the fellowship hall.