The obituary notice of Susan KELLY

We will miss you, Susan, but never forget you! Our love and support for Stephen, Steven, and the family are unwavering.

I have two of many favorite memories of Susan to share. The first was when Susan, hers son, Steven, my son, Max, and I spent an afternoon at the Falls of the Ohio, a world famous site across the Ohio river from Louisville. The site has been a source for fossils and fossil hunters for many years. During a low water period there, we walked and jumped along the paths in the river, experiencing and enjoying the thrill of doing evolutionary science in real-time. The other favorite memory presented here, was a dinner Susan, her spouse, Stephen, my spouse, Christine, and I spent at Asiatique, and Asian fusion restaurant in Louisville. The witty repartee and convivial atmosphere during that evening I will never forget. As I indicated, there are so many more. In the time to come, we will all miss Susan's physical presence, but never forget her strong and wonderful spirit!

Sending heartfelt condolences to Stephen and family.

I only met Susan later on in her journey and was sorry not to have met her prior to this but am very aware of what a vibrant, inspirational and courageous lady she was. She approached her illness with bravery and dignity and it was clear that she was so very loved by her family and carers. Sending heartfelt condolences to Stephen and family. Ellie Davies

Susan and I met in San Francisco over forty years ago. Our paths crossed working as paralegals at a big corporate law firm - not a job either of us intended to keep (nor kept), but one to which I am so grateful for bringing Susan into my life. Beautiful, curious, courageous, and kind, Susan was my treasured friend. She and I discovered (on our escape from the law firm) shared scholarly interests that kept us connected professionally and intellectually. But more than that, we discovered a mutual trust and love as we helped each other navigate difficult relationships, ultimately to choose lifelong joyful ones (with partners who are also lifelong friends). My husband and I both cherish the memory of Susan’s and Stephen’s wedding – in part because we introduced the two of them, but also because our daughter, Sophie (who was four years old at the time), had the privilege to be the flower girl for that wonderful occasion. I am so grateful we were able to visit Susan and Stephen (and Ottie) twice in the last two years of Susan’s life. Both of them demonstrated such grace and grit, as well as love for each other and for their lives together during Susan’s decline. I hope to bring at least some of those qualities into my own life, with her memory as my guide.

I first saw Susan at her interview at Egenis at the University of Exeter for a post for which she had been more or less headhunted. She spoke about sociological issues in genomics but using a philosophical perspective which was good cause the room was full of philosophical people. I then met Susan in the kitchen, I was a lowly PhD student and announced that she probably had the closest work to my interests and could we work together? She was very much open to collaboration and was always on hand to advise and listen. Together we published several papers and Susan became a total anchor, both intellectually and emotionally of my subsequent work life. She always had time for people and always listened and contributed fantastic ideas. And her ideas were the inspirational type that really bought today’s materialist , interventional culture into question. It was a huge influence on many people in the department including me, and I dedicated my book to her (just the one book). More recently, I was lucky to also to know Susan when over the last few years together with Courtney and Stephen, Ottie and occasionally Woof, we journeyed by steam train to Paignton, Totnes, Dartmouth Minehead and various other local stream train haunts . She was a hero-to both people and dogs.

“Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop,” said Saint Augustin.

The summer of 2024, my wife Loreen and I had the pleasure of spending a few days with Susan and Stephen in Exeter. There were smiles and kisses, Susan’s caregivers were outstanding, and Susan clearly appreciated their kindness and efficiency.
Susan an intellectual powerhouse, could no longer read but was rarely without an audiobook. Stephen — the house chef — whipped up a rich bouillabaisse and made sure Susan enjoyed it right down to the last shrimp.

Susan showed us the ways her life was solid and rewarding. She showed us how to live fully, every moment of every day.

It is time now for tears but also time to celebrate a woman who made the world better.

Stephen and family, please accept our deep condolences.