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Susan Adkisson, age 73. Of Valley View, Texas, Passed away October 22, 2018. Susan was born in Dallas, Texas, 9-12-1945 to parents, Ed and Edith Morgan. Susan graduated from Adamson High School in Dallas and went on to study at North Texas State University in Denton. Susan met her husband of 51 years, Ben Harrison Adkisson, Jr. in 1966 at Ross Downs, a genuine Texas Bush Horse Racing Track in Colleyville, Texas. Ben won a date with Susie by winning a bet on a horse race. Little did Susie know that Ben had firsthand knowledge of which horse was going to win the race. Back then the jockeys all took turns winning and Ben’s friend was one of the jockeys. They married on February 12, 1967. Susie and Ben made their initial home in Farmers Branch where Ben was a 40-year part owner and ultimately full owner of Fred Marsh Automotive, a repair shop specializing in repair of Jeeps and 4-wheel drive vehicles. Susie worked 23 years as Inventory Write-off Analyst for Otis Engineering, a division of Haliburton. In 1970, Susie and Ben purchased land in Aubrey adjacent to the then famous 440 Ranch and began to develop their farm there. Susie had grown up in Southlake where her grandfather had a farm and it was there that Susie developed her love of horses, dogs and the farm life. In 1978, Susie began her career of raising, training and showing championship cutting horses. Susie got her start by befriending cutting legends Jack Newton, the trainer for the 440, and David Kerr, another trainer in the area. Susie’s cutting career spanned 40 years and included many regional championships and national finals. Her most famous and beloved horse was Billy Hygro, a 1984 gelded son of Son Of A Doc. Susie was the ultimate horsewoman with excellent horsemanship skills. An activity Susie enjoyed was teaching others to ride. She freely gave lessons to friends and family who wanted to better their horsemanship skills and she taught several youths in the community how to ride. Susie was one of Ben’s best hunting partners. Susie was a competitive Trap shooter and enjoyed hunting Quail and training her own bird dogs. Susie was the ultimate animal lover taking in numerous “throw a ways” and adopting “rescues” sometimes having 5-7 dogs at one time. Susie’s fierce competitive nature not only earned her numerous awards in the horse world but expanded to tennis. While she played socially on the court, friends were amazed at her table tennis skills. But, it was Susie’s integrity and loyalty to her friends and family and animals and her funny sense of humor that will be remembered most. Susie loved deeply and unconditionally. She will be missed greatly by many. Susie is survived by her husband, Ben; brother Pete Morgan (Dallas); brothers-in-law Johnny Adkisson (Plano) and David Adkisson (Lewisville); first cousin Trisha Morgan Russell; and a host of extended family and beloved friends. Services will be a graveside service at 11 am on Monday October 29th at New Hope Cemetery, FM 372, Mountain Springs, Texas. A family and friends memorial reception and lunch will follow at the Mountain Springs Community Center, 173 Mountain Springs Lane. Memorials may be made to Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter, 2501 N. Weaver St., Gainsville, TX 76240. Online condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. To send a flower arrangement to the family of Susan Adkisson, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

Tributes

Susan Adkisson

October 22, 1945 - October 22, 2018