Marilyn Sue Ashmore

Marilyn Sue Ashmore, 71, resident of Detroit Lakes, MN, and previously Tampa, FL, passed away on September 23, 2023 surrounded by her family and friends and under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Susie was the baby of the family, born to Jack and Violet (Mathewson) Stearns on November 14, 1951. She grew up in Rochert, MN, and graduated from Frazee High School in 1969. She grew up helping out at her parents’ businesses, the Cotton Lake Store and Pine Cone Camp on Cotton Lake. She went on to attend Joseph’s School of Hair Design and graduated in 1970. She worked in the beauty industry in the Detroit Lakes area for 12 years professionally. She continued cutting hair for friends, neighbors, and family until just a few years ago. But her strict rule was NEVER on Sunday.

Sue decided that nursing was her true calling and attended Northwest Technical College in Detroit Lakes for two years and graduated from the program with her LPN degree. She started working at St. Mary’s Hospital in 1984 and continued working there for the next 38 years in some capacity. She spent most of that time in the operating room as a surgical technologist but took the greatest pleasure in teasing and joking with the doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, and anyone else present. She loved the lifelong friendships that were created in those rooms. She also spent time working at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, FL, during her time living there and enjoyed working at Busch Gardens once she decided to be an official snowbird.

Sue had taken yearly trips to Florida since she was 18 and loved the warm weather and people she met there. On one of those trips, she met her love, Mike Ashmore. They were married on September 1, 2001, and remained married until his death in 2021.

Mike and Sue enjoyed traveling the country on vacations or visiting friends and family. It was quite the sight to see the minivan packed for each trip with all three cats in tow! They loved those cats like family and took them along for many of the journeys.

When the first grandchild came along in 2006 Sue and Mike happily turned into Nana and Papa. Many adventures were had in Minnesota during the summer and Florida in the winter months.

She loved getting together for a friendly card game, going to live music, crocheting, or a fun trip to the casino.

Sue is survived by her children Tara Williams and Amy (David) King; her grandchildren Sophie King and JaiSean Williams-Ansley; her siblings Charlotte Enger, Janet Bunn, and Bruce Stearns; her sister-in-law Shelly Stearns; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Violet Stearns; brother, Ron Stearns, and husband Mike Ashmore.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 29 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1401 Madison Ave, Detroit Lakes, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. with a short prayer service at 7:00. Please come with a funny or light-hearted story to share and join us for light refreshments.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com