Dearest Friends,



It is with great sorrow to inform you that our beloved mother and friend Susan Tarlton passed away peacefully in her home in Hickory NC on Thursday morning January 22nd. In recent months she greatly missed posting her personal accounts and successes with her ALS treatments as well as reading all of your good wishes. Regrettably, her admirable fight ended on Thursday January 22nd quietly in her sleep. Susan’s daughter Lisa and daughter-in-law Sue were by her side. And although we miss her terribly and her passing was somewhat unexpected, we are grateful that she can now rest from her fight and is indeed in a better place. Susan would also appreciate us sharing the fact that her last evening with us was one of fun, family and great conversation that was topped off with a rare Martini. A treat she hadn't enjoyed in over four years. She decided on this occasion (and many others!) enough with the ‘rules.’

We loved her optimism.She was an inspiration. All of our lives, she instilled in us that "Attitude is life."



We would like to note that mom’s experience with this disease has been nothing but inspirational for us as well. Although we will miss her terribly, perhaps her message will endure. We can learn and grow from this. Susan’s positive attitude, hope and unwavering determination to fight to the end have taught us the strength of the human spirit. She still lives with us of course and her spirit is and always will be alive in our hearts. Her life is a testament to what is really important – family, friends, love, hope and determination.



A true ‘Southern Lady,’ Susan Tarlton was born in 1937 in Columbus, GA, the daughter of the late Julius Pinkey “JP” and Susan Elizabeth Chappell Smith. She was a charter member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Susan had an illustrious career at Boyles Furniture for more than 25 years. She had a dynamic personality with an incredibly positive outlook on life that touched everyone who knew her. She was an elegant and fashionable lady to the very end who loved sailing, riding motorcycles, and entertaining. Although a staunch Republican, she was very proud to vote for Barack Obama in November. She was a devoted friend and very dedicated to her family. Susan was a very strong and independent woman as she faced her illness head on for five years. She battled her disease with determination and courage, undergoing stem cell therapy abroad and opting to try non-traditional ALS treatments. Be her side throughout this journey was Margaret Ward, to whom the family owes their deepest gratitude. The WFUBM (Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center) Center was also very supportive in her medical endeavors and in gratitude to their program, she has donated her body to ALShttp://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php research.



In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Julia Smith Hendrix. Susan is survived by Horace Greene, with whom she shared her life for the past 11 years; a son, Vernon Tartlton and wife Sue of Hickory; two daughters, Lisa Tarlton O’Hair and husband Dana of Hickory; and Mary Jane Tarlton and husband Neil Deutch, of New York City; Jim Tarlton, Max Tarlton and grandson Dixon C. O’Hair all of Hickory; and two granddaughters, Lily Chappell O’Hair of Hickory and Rose Chappell Deutsch of New York City, NY; her step grandchildren, David, Elizabeth, Caroline and Will Mathison of Hickory.



There will be a gathering of friends and family from 3:00 to 6:00 pm on Sunday, January 25th at the home of Lisa and Dana O’Hair. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials are made to Palliative Care Center & Hospice of Catawba, 3975 Robinson Rd. Newton, NC 28658. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.bass-smithfuneralhome.com.Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Susan Chappell Smith Tarlton.