Suzanne Moore Shelton

Obituary First off, this is not meant to be a traditional obituary. It is not meant for anyone who didnt know my mom because there is nothing included in a traditional obituary they couldnt get from any public record. It is a reflection of my relationship with my mom, how she touched those close to her, and why her legacy is so special to those who really knew her best. My mom was not what most people would consider a normal mother, but I wouldnt have changed a thing about our relationship because she did what most "normal" mothers often fail to doto make sure I turned out better than her. She sacrificed so much for me but I never sensed even a hint of regret. Whether it was leaving her extended family to move to the wilderness of Colorado or driving 4 hours a day for 5 years straight so I could go to a good school, my mom exchanged her own time and energy for my well-being. This is no secret to anyone who knew her well, and I realized and appreciated the sacrifices she made at the timeI just thought I would get to say a formal thank you before she passed away. Now, I am starting to really appreciate how selfless she was and I think that was truly her legacy. I remember going to Las Vegas with my parents for my 21st birthday and my mom wasted no time in visiting her colleagues at the Craps table. Before she had even one glass of wine, she was out tipping the dealers more than she was betting because she understood what it was like to do their job. Of course, she was comparing Caesars Palace to her job in little Cripple Creek, Colorado. The dealers were a little confused as to why she insisted on tipping them hundreds of dollars when she clearly was not a high roller. Regardless, I remember seeing the look on their faces when they would talk to my mom. They werent sucking up to her. They knew she was willfully throwing her money at them because of the kindness in her heart and I could see their faces soften when they realized it. By the end of the night they were almost sheepish around her because they understood that they did nothing to deserve that kind of treatment but their appreciation was obvious. I like to think that the next time they went to gamble they thought of my mom and tipped their fellow dealers in the same way. That was the gift my mom could always offer. She could will you into being a better person and you wouldnt even know it until it was too late. My mom had a drinking problem and I wouldnt change that about her. Our family had hundreds of fights that began because of her drinking and the happiness generally left our home around 5pm most nights of the week. Looking back, my moms drinking was proof of how great a mother and wife she was. My dad and I love her more than anything in the world to this day and always will for the rest of our lives. That will never change. Think about that. Why would anybody put up with a mother or wife who insists on drowning her brain and kindness in a vodka bottle 4 nights a week for 18 years? Most people would have some kind of resentment, but not us. That is how amazing a person she was the rest of the time. We would both gladly trade another 18 years of her drinking just to have her back for one sober weekend and brunch at the Broadmoor. The truly amazing part of her drinking is the blowback she received from my dad and I the next day. We would heavily criticize her and tell her she had to stop drinking. I remember many times telling her that I hated her when she would drink. It takes a strong person to take that kind of criticism from a husband and son every day. While she never totally quit, she did make an effort to cut down on her drinking and I think given her addiction that was an enormous task. The bottom line is that during a time when most kids grow away from their parents, my mother gave me every reason to distance myself but I had seen how special she was and I knew that I would love her more than anything until the day I died. My only regret is that I wasnt better to her while she was here. I should have told her how much she meant to me when I had the chance, but I didnt. Her selflessness actually drove me to take her for granted. She was so easy-going and thought so far ahead of me that it appeared she didnt need any affirmation or thanks. It all came second-nature to her and I felt like I was riding on her coattail my entire life so I never thought to make a big statement about how much I loved her. Now, that regret is her legacy. I believe that every person on the planet would immediately become a better person if they approached life like my mom. She cared for and loved her family more than anything in the world, but had a never-ending supply of kindness and charitability for everyone elsewhether they deserved it or not. It is only now that I realize she was the most Christ-like person I have ever known and she certainly was not striving for that. She loved without the expectation of being loved, she gave to those in need, and she always put others before herself. There will never be a woman quite like my mom ever again and I would just hope that anyone reading this will adopt her good will and selfless attitude to apply in their own life. I know that I will keep every part of her spirit in mine for the rest of my life. Every decision I make will be filtered through her for the rest of my life. My life with my mom made me a far better person than I could have ever become on my own and I know, deep down, that is all she ever wanted. She succeeded, she won. She fulfilled what I believe was her greatest goal in life and I will never let her down. That is all I can offer her and I hope anyone reading this takes the same approach. Let my mom live on by adopting her selflessness and applying it to the people you know and love. My mom would have wanted that. Services Funeral Service