SUSAN PATTERSON MIZE
1946-2017
Susan Patterson Mize beloved wife, mother and aunt, died peacefully at her home in Houston on December 25, after a valiant battle with cancer. She will be remembered for her zest for life and was loved by all for her kindness, generosity and charity.
Susan was born January 4, 1946 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Cora Francis Albert Patterson and Ernest Odell Patterson, Jr. She grew up in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Westbury High School, where she was a debater, a cheerleader, a member of the drum and bugle corps, and most importantly the “class historian”. She was central to organizing the reunions, which included all of the classes that started Westbury as a new high school. She had a knack for hanging on to friends and keeping up with people their whole lives.
After high school, Susan was off to the University of Texas, and then to the University of Houston where she received her degree in business and accounting. At both schools, she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She remained an enthusiastic Longhorn fan for the rest of her life, and followed all of college football with the skill and dedication that would have made any sportscaster proud.
She began her professional life working for her father at Patterson Engineering and then moved on to other opportunities. Through her later life, Susan worked as a private accountant with many small business clients. Her daughter Deborah was born of Susan’s first marriage. Susan supported Deborah’s interest in horses, and spent years travelling to and from horse shows all over the country. Mother and daughter formed a unique bond that is hard to describe, but easy for any parent to envy. Eventually Susan found her true love, Ron Mize, who dedicated himself to supporting her in all of her activities.
Susan was the anchor for many circles of friends. There were formal organizations, like the PEO Sisterhood, Chi Omega, and the Westbury Alums. Other groups from many backgrounds found their way to Susan’s warm glow. Her home was always open to friends in need, and she was always available to go above and beyond for someone with a problem. If you needed to know where anyone was, you could be sure that Susan had kept up and knew how to find them.
Preceded in death by her parents, she is survived by her husband, Ronald Lee Mize; daughter, Deborah Willis Tatham and son-in-law, Thomas P. Tatham; brother, Richard O. Patterson and sister-in law, Wendy E. Siceloff; niece, Barbara E. Patterson; and nephew, Robert O. Patterson.
Friends and family are invited to remember Susan and to celebrate a life well lived on Friday, December 29, 2017 at 11:00am at First United Methodist Church, 1320 Main, Houston, Texas followed by a burial at Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Ave, Houston. Reception details will be announced at the service.
For those desiring, donations may be directed to the Chapter DF Scholarship Fund c/o Lynn Barnes, 1326 Cortland St. Houston, TX 77008. The PEO Sisterhood is an organization that supports higher education and the advancement of women.