Suki Morrissey
September 2, 1944 ~ December 13, 2021
Susan 'Suki' Morrissey, 77, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Mount Vernon, passed away Monday, December 13, 2021, at Grand Living, Cedar Rapids, following a battle with Alzheimer's Disease. A Celebration of Life will take place 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 18, 2022 at United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon. Inurnment has previously taken place at Mount Vernon Cemetery. Arrangements by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon.
Survivors include her children, Greg (Karen) Morrissey, Melissa (Ryan) Morrissey, Alison (James) Egolf, and Shanna (Ryan) Cooper; grandchildren, Kyle, Kelsey, Dylan, Owen, Noah, Sienna, Addison, and Tatum; great-grandchildren, Brecken, Kerrigan, and Ashton; many friends including Karen Tousey, Ann and Guy Booth, David and Nancy Field, JoAnn Schoettmer, and Michele Kelly; and extended family including the Kosek's.
Susan Kay Smith was born September 2, 1944, in New York, to Donald and Kveta (Vondracek) Smith. She grew up in Cedar Rapids and attended Washington High School'was Homecoming Queen in 1961. She graduated in 1962. Suki received her Bachelor's from the University of Utah, where she studied dance and belonged to Tri Delta. Dancing ballet was an integral part of Suki's life. In addition to dancing professionally with many groups including Dieman and Bennett Dance Theatre of the Hemispheres and a traveling dance company, she was a dance teacher and Ballet Academy instructor. Suki was a well-known and friendly face, recognizable as the Sugar Plum Fairy at the Paramount in Cedar Rapids and from greeting everyone at Allie's Emporium as well as Van Sickle's Women's Collective. She was a member of the Entre Nous book club, the United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon where she sang in the choir and taught the liturgical dance, and the Czech Society.
Suki enjoyed Elvis and Robert Redford, traveling, doing cross-stitch in her younger years, and entertaining. She was very festive as she hosted holiday parties for her family. Suki became a step-mom to three children in her early 20s when she married Tim Morrissey. She didn't cook, with the exception of chicken spaghetti'everyone's favorite. Suki was known as a bubbly, funny, entertaining woman, who will be missed by her loving family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Kerry Duffy; former spouse, Tim Morrissey; and significant other, John Schenken.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the entire staff at Home Instead Senior Care, Grand Living, and St. Croix Hospice for their amazing love and care of Suki.
The family asks that you please share your support, memories, and stories with Suki's family on her tribute wall to be shared at the Celebration of Life.
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Mount Vernon
Suki was always absolutely wonderful to me and my family. We will miss her desperately. May she rest in peace. Such a beautiful person. Tony Venuto.
I will never forget the thrill she had driving her tiny Honda civic, quite fast, delivering us to camp.
I remember Suki’s love for ballet, spending time listening to her college stories and lessons learned, and her wonderful personality. Sending along my hugs. Stephanie Fisher
I remember Suki as the young, beautiful mother who would sneak peeks on us while we played in Alison’s room.
Suki, my dance “aunt” and dear colleague. Peace be with you and to Shanna and Alison.
Just hearing of Suki’s death. My heart breaks. From a young girl, she loomed large in my life. Watching her dance SPF from my plush red velvet seat at the Paramount, then watching her in class at D&B (as I fumbled but she was glorious). To me, she was a true prima ballerina. So blessed to have found her adult ballet class when I returned to CR. The years directly under her teaching made me a stronger woman, more precise dancer, and happier human. May Suki dance with the angels in glory.
To my Dearest American Sister/friend Suki. Suki and I became friends when I stayed at her home in Washington Ave SE in Cedar Rapids as an Foreign Exchange Student in 1961-62. Throughout the years we have been in contact and I visted her when I stayed in the USA to attend Washington Senior High School Reunions. With her and Karen ( Pospisil) I shared precious memories of our schooldays. And we treasured our mutual friendship And when Suki visited us in the Netherlands we had a wonderful time together. Sharing love, laughter and also the pains that are part of our lives at our age. In the end there was always that lovely smile of hers , and that is the way I will remember her. I regret that I havenot been able to visit her anymore, due to difficulties reaching her due to her illness as well as due to Covid for the last two years. I will always remember Suki and she will always be a big part of my LIfe. Keep Smiling Suki, so shall I I am sure we’l meet again Some Sunny Day! Love Elmy
I am in such disbelief in the passing of Suki!!!! Such a beautiful person and beautiful ballerina. My parents John and Bernus Kooreman were very close to Kay and Don. I loved them so much. I saw her perform in the Nutcracker and I will never forget it. My sincere condolences to her family and I send my love. She is dancing in heaven now.
We youngsters at Dieman Bennett admired and looked up to Suki as our most professional and gorgeous dancer. To attain THOSE heights!!! –sue lauther
We will remember Suki for her love and deep loyalty to family and friends throughout her life. She was one of the best and will be missed by all who knew her. Frank and I send our love and sympathy to the entire family and those that cared for Suki. Cheryle and Frank Mitvalsky
As a former pupil of Suki’s at Dieman and Bennett’s Dance Theatre, then later at the Ballet Academy, I wanted to share my condolences with her loved ones. While I have not seen Suki for a couple of decades now, she has always been remembered and will continue to be, as a relentlessly kind and caring person. She was always understanding of us little dancers. I always enjoyed classes with her and they are remembered as my favorites because of her. Suki was a stunning ballerina and a beautiful soul that I had the honor to know as a child, and will never forget.
Bob and I were blessed to have Suki as a neighbor when she lived at Camden Farms!! We will never forget the warm hospitality Suki and John Schenken showed us when we first moved in!! It is what prompted me to join the Welcoming Committee…I wanted everyone to feel the same welcome that we received!! We couldn’t have asked for a better neighbors!!! After John passed away, I enjoyed my visits with Suki as she walked Brody or came to a social gathering. The world has lost a kind, sweet person. My deepest condolences to her family and good friends. Vicki and Bob Bauman
I met Suki when I took Ballet lessons at Dieman & Bennett Academy of Dance. I started at age 28, and had a great appreciation for ballet. Suki would sometimes join my class to makeup a class. I remember her as being extremely talented as a dancer, always a smile on her face and twinkle in her eye and a great sense of humor. I was honored to have a small part in the Nutcracker Ballet at the Paramount when Suki was the Sugar Plum Fairy. I remember one performance where the sets were being quickly moved and the Christmas tree started to swing and sway in what seemed like slow motion, it crashed to the stage floor. I was aghast, but everyone acted like it happened every night (it didn’t) got the tree propped up and the show went on as if nothing had happened. I was impressed with the professionalism of all the dancers involved. I shall always treasure the moments I had with Suki. She was always so kind and caring.
Suki was a wonderful ballet teacher. Her class of adults that didn’t disband until COVID hit are thankful to everyone who helped her get to class to teach us. When I first met Suki, we took class from Miss Dieman and Miss Bennett together. Having Suki in the dressing room and in center floor dancing with you was such a joy. She was so beautiful when she danced, even more beautiful than at rest, if that’s possible. Her graciousness was there in every movement. Nobody could take flight like her. She was warm and welcoming and made everyone feel like royalty. When Suki taught, her petit and grand allegros were so felicitous you felt like you were taking off and would never touch the ground. She blessed us richly.
In loving memory from her last Prince. May her Family have peace in the joy and happiness she brought to the world.
Suki was one of my teachers at Ballet Academy. She taught me to love Liturgical Dance and gave me opportunities to share dance with others. I valued her teaching and often remember the lessons she taught me in and out of the studio.